"The blood orange season is in full swing. The products are smaller but of excellent quality. At this point in the campaign, it's a turning point for the red varieties. The Ippolito and Lempso varieties are coming to an end, leaving room for the medium-late varieties. In particular, I'm talking about Tarocco Sciara, whose excellent quality goes without saying," says Giovanni Scavo, sales manager of the Sicilian cooperative Il Girasole.
"I think the Tarocco Sciara is the best table orange because it peels easily, the segments are turgid, and the flesh is deep red. We will start marketing the late varieties in the second decade of April with the Tarocco Meli. This is the queen variety. At the beginning of May, we will move on to the latest clone, Tarocco Sant'Alfio, which is exceptional in terms of consistency and resistance.
"In terms of sales, our fruit is sold under the historical brands of the company, Donna Rosa and Felicia. We're noticing that foreign markets are gradually retreating as they begin to turn to blond varieties, and here the battle is shifting between Spain and Egypt, with the latter emerging as the winner in terms of quantities exported to Europe at extremely low prices. From my point of view, the domestic market will be the most profitable. Of course, the above-mentioned varieties need adequate compensation. Therefore, we expect to protect ourselves from foreign competition thanks to the Italian consumer who appreciates our citrus fruits."
"The extremely dry weather continues," explains Giovanni Scavo. "The lack of rainfall does not allow any operator to sleep soundly, and nothing is really being done to guarantee at least 20/30% of irrigation shifts. The sector needs concrete solutions and therefore targeted investments to rapidly increase the capacity of reservoirs and the distribution network, taking into account the real needs linked to the climatic crisis."
"On farms with wells, groundwater levels are falling, and salinity levels are rising because irrigation has never stopped, even in winter. Although drip systems distribute water resources wisely, the cost, including the economic cost, is enormous."
Il Girasole is a rapidly expanding Sicilian company located on Etna's slopes, in Paternò's industrial zone, with a covered surface area of around 3,500 sq. m. and cold storage rooms capable of storing around 600 tons of product and rotating another 300 tons. The cooperative owns 500 hectares of citrus groves. Early, medium and late varieties are cultivated within the production areas of the PGI Sicilian Blood Orange.
The most important varieties are the Navel, Tarocco, Moro and Sanguinello lemons, the nova clementines and the late Ciaculli mandarins. Summer fruits include peaches, nectarines and pears. Another 100 hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of stone fruit (peaches/nectarines) in the areas between the provinces of Caltanissetta and Agrigento, and Coscia pears between Bronte and Maniace.
For more information:
Il Girasole Soc. Coop.
VIA Francesco Petrarca, 51
95047 Paternò (CT) - Italy
Tel.: (+39) 095 623381
Tel.: Giovanni Scavo (+39) 337 950 732
Tel.: Serena Scavo (+39) 3474242478
E-mail: info@ilgirasolearance.com
www.ilgirasolearance.com
