The harvest of greenhouse apricots has started about two weeks earlier than usual in the southern Italian region of Apulia. Francesco Spina, owner of the homonymous cultivation company in San Ferdinando di Puglia, provided an assessment of the situation. Francesco grows various types of stone fruit on an area of about 50 hectares.
In the photo on the left, boxes of apricots branded Il Monello. On the right, a stone fruit crop of the Ninfa variety.
"For the moment, we are harvesting and selling about 5 tons per day of apricots of the Ninfa variety. These volumes will tend to double as early as next week. We are splitting up the quantities in order to try to satisfy all customers to some extent, considering that requests are very lively. We supply several Italian wholesale markets, such as Milan, Padua, Turin and Verona. Soon we will also export the fruit, especially to Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Greece and other European countries."
Francesco Spina
"We opened the 2022 campaign three days ago, even anticipating Spain, thanks to the use of innovative covering films and burners, with which we were able to keep the internal temperature always high and constant (minimum 10-12°C and maximum around 20°C) even in cold periods. These techniques, despite being expensive, allow us to establish solid and lasting business relationships with different Italian and European markets, being able to guarantee them supplies of apricots, peaches and nectarines since the end of April. We will continue with the collection of these products until the first ten days of September."
Apricot variety Ninfa
"The selling prices of the first fruits are similar to those of last year. Of course, we have to take into account the price increases of fuel, plastic and crop protection products. However, we don't want to be complaining, it's hard for everyone. We are satisfied with how the start of the season is going, both in terms of cultivation and commercially, because we have the opportunity to enter the market earlier than our competitors. The size is good (45-55 mm) and the fruit has a homogeneous color. We deliver the apricots in plastic one-kilogram trays, placed in wooden boxes."
For more information:
Azienda Agricola Spina Francesco - Il Monello
Contrada Marano S.N.
76017 San Ferdinando di Puglia (BT)
+39 345 848 12 22
aziendaagricolaspinafrancesco@outlook.it
www.linkedin.com//azienda-il-monello