The limited presence of Spanish strawberries on the shelves of Italian supermarkets is mainly due to both a reduced area planted for the 2021 season and weather conditions that occurred in recent weeks. The shortage is compensated by strawberries from Basilicata and Campania, particularly those of Piana del Sele and Caserta.
Quite early in the season, the large chains had replaced the Spanish strawberries with those from Campania. This occurred because many growers from Campania turned to Nova Siri Genetics and started working with varieties such as Melissa, Marimball and Gioelita. These varieties guarantee earliness and excellent yields right from the beginning of the campaign, as well as a longer shelf life and a extended season.
In this regard, two growers from Campania were interviewed.
"We are experiencing a positive year, because the Spanish strawberries are barely present. This is an optimal season for us, not only in terms of quality, but also in terms of quantity. I have 22 hectares with Marimbella and Melissa and with these varieties I already achieved excellent results in mid-January. With other varieties, this is only possible in February," said Francesco Truono of the company of the same name located in the province of Salerno.
“At the moment I harvest 10-12 pallets per day. These are delivered to a cooperative in Campania and then go to the retailer. I'm glad I chose Nova Siri Genetics, because thanks to their selections I can guarantee quality and quantity more than five months a year. These are necessary conditions for closing contracts."
"I've been in this business for 40 years, but I've never experienced a season like this before. In early February, our strawberries were already available in the supermarkets, which is unique. Many chains preferred foreign strawberries, because the price was lower and there were large quantities available. Now those same chains are asking us for strawberries and are willing to pay a lot for them. We have tested many varieties over the years, but the results we get with Melissa and Marimbella are unbeatable," said Giovanni Pezone of the Cooperativa San Pietro di Parete.
Contact: 
Nova Siri Genetics Srl
Via San Maurizio, 46
75025 Policoro (MT)
Email: info@novasirigenetics.com
Website: www.novasirigenetics.com