It looks like it is going to be a good year in terms of volumes for Nocciola Gentile delle Langhe after a bad year last year, with a 60% increase compared to 2021. The constant alternating trend of the past few years is therefore confirmed. In addition, the rain of the past week - with short yet intense storms - has also brought good volumes of water thus helping productions. This is what reported by Saverio Rapalino, owner of the company that produces the Noccioleria brand.
Saverio Rapalino, current owner and founder of the Noccioleria brand, started managing the land of Azienda Agricola Rapalino in 2009. The 50 hectares of hazelnut groves produce around 80 tons, which are then processed and commercialized under the Noccioleria brand.
Saverio Rapalino keeps testimonies from the company that date back to 1600, when his ancestors cultivated different crops.
"Over the past centuries, vineyards were the best source of income, which then changed to breeding. Hazelnut cultivation started only in the 1950s and was previously used to recover those soils where nothing would grow."
The company obtains four products from Piedmont PGI hazelnuts: whole hazelnuts, crumbs, flour and paste. These are mainly used in the pastry and ice-cream industry.
"We do not produce spreads mostly because we specialize in processing pure hazelnuts, but also because we do not want to 'invade' that industry, plus technology, experience and excellent skills are needed to obtain top-quality spreads. At the moment, we do not want to risk not being capable of obtaining the same quality and service of our other products."
“We manage to achieve such quality by carefully selecting the fruits we process. The high quantities of discarded product reflect our quality standards. Second-choice fruits are still good and healthy, but we prefer selling it to the industry that needs inexpensive product. The difference in price can sometimes be as much as €4/kg and the difference in quality is well-perceivable as fruits are undamaged by stink bugs, rot or by bad product management. Were we to organize a tasting session with our paste and a semi-processed product, the difference would be clear. This is why, just to make an example, it takes €18/kg to produce high-quality hazelnut ice-cream while in retail stores there is a lot of choice even at €4/kg."
“Harvesting operations will take place between mid-August and mid-September. The produce should not be early even though the prolonged drought in May/June 2021 and the lack of rain and snow in winter stressed plants. In addition, sensitivity to parasites has increased and plants responded with less vigor. Weather permitting, volumes are looking good, although it is still too early to make an estimate. This is a peculiar year."
The brand exports 30% of its production to Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Australia, US and Canada. The main channel is the ice-cream sector, one of the worst hit by the lockdown and various restrictions, but which managed to continue working even during the pandemic.
For further information:
Noccioleria
Via Casalunga, 1
12050 Benevello (CN)
+39 0173 529119
+39 333 2395770
info@noccioleria.com
www.noccioleria.com