Now that the complex 2018/19 citrus fruit campaign is over, the time has come to think about the stone fruit campaign that will end in early July. The first early volumes of apricots, peaches and nectarines will be harvested in early May. FreshPlaza talked about it with Vincenzo Malagrinò (in the photo below), owner of Fruttone Bio.
Vincenzo Malagrinò.
"Everything started with the hot temperatures and lack of rain in summer 2018. Drought continued in September as far as October, when a storm led to a water surplus. Citrus groves were stressed by the sudden change in climate. Temperatures were higher than average also when clementines started being harvested around 15th October. Night-time humidity did not evaporate during the day, so the produce was wet and shelf-life was initially affected."
The first shipments of clementines arrived at their destination mouldy. "We registered this problem throughout October and November, so our final clients in Italy and abroad were affected and consumers were not tempted to purchase the produce again."
Organic grove on 19th April 2019, currently in bloom. The orchard dates back to the 1960s and is managed with organic matter and white oil.
"Sales dropped in favor of apples and, in January, it was hard to even make a sale at a very low price due to the heavy presence of foreign produce. In the Sibari plain, we must have left 35% of the total produce on trees."
For Fruttone Bio, things picked up in late January thanks to a few organic orchards in the Gioia Tauro plain, which prolonged the campaign to 18th April.
Organic grove on 18th April 2019, currently in bloom for the next 2019/20 campaign.
"Expectations are positive for the next campaign, as blossoming is going well but, as always, everything will depend on the weather."
Beehives for the pollination of plants.
As for organic stone fruit, the harvesting of Mirlo Blanco apricots will start in early May. "One of our producers owns one hectare of six-year-old plants that will produce good quantities this season. He has just thinned trees and should start harvesting around 7th-10th May, weather permitting."
Mirlo Blanco apricot tree thinned the day before the photo was taken.
"This variety is extremely sweet and, in terms of flavor, it can be compared to Orange Rubis, although it is earlier. Mirlo Blanco apricots have a red-orange color when ripe and need a lot of chill hours."
Mirlo Blanco apricot orchard in the Rocca Imperiale area. The microclimate in this area guarantees the right balance between chill and sun hours.
Tastired paches pre-thinning.
Rich May and Tastired peaches, Big Bang nectarines and Ufo 4 Saturn peaches will be harvested from 20th May onward. "Trees will be thinned in a few days' time and we are confident the campaign will go well."
Big Bang nectarines pre-thinning.
Ufo 4 Saturn peaches, pre-thinning.
Contacts:
Vincenzo Malagrinò 
Fruttone Bio Group
Via Giannone, 147
Corigliano Calabro (CS)
Tel.: +39 (0)983 877 23
Fax: +39 (0)983 877 23
Email: info@fruttonebio.it
Website: www.fruttonebio.it