The lockdown pushed potato sales, so much so that, as president Davide Martelli reported during the press conference to present the new Qualipat project, Consorzio Patata di Bologna Dop registered a 33% increase compared to the previous year.
"Potato sales increased on average by 6.3% and our PDO produce increased by 33%. This is due to its recognizable high quality and to the fact we grow and commercialize only one variety - Primura."
Left to right: Davide Martelli, Maurizio Magni (Prima Pagina) and Andrea Galli
Andrea Galli, manager of the Qualipat project, explained that "we have invested €1 million over three years for TV, radio and social media ads. We took part in a European tender that financed 70% of the expenses. The claim is Molto più che buona (Much more than just nice)."
On an agronomic level, production was affected by drought in spring. The wireworm problem is always lurking but, as Primura is an early variety, it partially avoids attacks.
The Consortium gathers 90 businesses and 9 packers. The product sold in a year was 12 thousand tons. Each packet has a QR code and is fully traceable.
Due to their unique qualities, PDO potatoes from Bologna are considered top-of-the-range when it comes to quality and price. The average price is €1.30-1.70/kg. "During the last campaign, producers made around €0.30/kg. This year quotations seem to be lower, but they should be satisfactory anyway."
"Packagers usually pay a few cents more per kg for the PDO produce, as they know yields per hectare are lower than those of traditional potatoes and because they know they make a higher revenue. This revenue, however, is spread along the entire Framework Agreement. For PDO products, framework agreements indicate the minimum base to form the producer price."
As for certified plots, 357 hectares were sowed in total during the 2019-2020 campaign. 419 hectares are envisaged for the 2020/21 season. In this case too, the growth over the past ten years has been 36.3%.
Most of the produce is sold through big retail chains (95%), also in co-branding with the "Patata di Bologna" wording, logo of the consortium and PDO mark well visible on packets.
Contatti
Consorzio di tutela patata di Bologna DOP
via Tosarelli 155
40050 Villanova di Castenaso (BO)
Tel.: +39 (0)51 7821709
Fax: +39 (0)51 782356
Website: www.patatadibologna.it