The Sicilian yellow melon campaign ended ten days ago and proved to be quite successful until the final harvest.
Franco Altamore of Sicilia Bedda, a well-known brand that is planning to extend its cultivated areas by 10% next year. These are important goals considering the fact that the traditional fruit-growing sector is experiencing a downturn everywhere, especially in the table grape sector.
"The harvest has been over for about ten days and we are about to run out of stock, which will only last for a few more days. Overall, it has been an excellent season, with reasonable prices, even if the last few weeks saw production quotations of €0.25 cents per kg. After that, practically since we stopped harvesting, there has been a significant surge, with prices as high as €0.50 cents per kg. If we had had more goods, we could have closed on a high note, but we are pleased with a satisfactory season,” said Altamore.
"We are planning to increase our surface area by 10% next year. The change stems from the need to satisfy a wider range of customers, including established customers who ask for larger quantities, as well as new partnerships that we have formed during the season and which will see us working with a major supermarket chain in Poland. The bulk of our business remains focused on domestic destinations and we are happy to confirm our main channels," continued the grower, who runs the farm with his partner Tommaso Ciaccio.
The increase in the volumes produced is the result of the appreciation of the operators in the supply chain who, in our product, recognize a superior quality melon. On top of this, there is a strong reliability of our brand and the consistency of the main organoleptic parameters of our yellow melons.
The constant increases in raw material prices, which sometimes double for some items, are unsettling us, creating work restrictions and psychological concerns. The focus of protests should be shifted from laughable issues to serious economic ones,” concluded Altamore.
Fore more information:
Az. Agr. Sicilia Bedda SS
di Altamore Franco e Ciaccio Tommaso
+39 388 355 2614
+39 333 450 6664
siciliabedda@legalmail.it
www.melonisiciliabedda.it