"We are starting to harvest our apricots from Romagna, though we are expecting quantities to drop towards the end of the season due to the temperatures last winter," explains Umberto Benvenuti, director of the Forlì facility of Società Agricola Guidi, owner of the Albisole and Terra di Romagna brands.
"Winter was very mild and the later varieties suffered the lack of chill hours. We are not expecting a lot of difference when it comes to the early varieties compared with a normal year, while the expected drop for later ones should be of around 30%. Unfortunately external factors have been affecting production for at least the past five years. Late frost, floods, insects, extreme temperatures: it is not easy to grow produce nowadays. We have protected the crops with nets as well as anti-frost fans, but we realize it is not always enough."
Umberto Benvenuti, Roberto Guidi, Gianmarco Benvenuti.
Agricola Guidi, which grows over 300 hectares of apricots, is increasingly focusing on red varieties. "This year too, we will plant additional hectares in both the Forlì and the hilly Roncofreddo (Forlì-Cesena) areas. We focus more and more on varieties that are good to eat, those that have received the best feedback from consumers. To us, high quality means a high Brix level in balance with the acidic component and constant organoleptic qualities year after year."
The clients that purchase Albisole apricots are mainly domestic and leading European big retail chains. Guidi is investing in four red apricot varieties, available between June and September.
"We are also continuing to invest in plums and persimmons. The former are of the Stanley, Angeleno and October Sun varieties and yields are expected to be high in 2024. As for the latter, the type is Rojo Brilante and, in this case too, orchards are on the plain, protected with nets and equipped with fertigation systems."
"Albisole is the only brand for apricots and plums, with slight differences in the graphic elements to distinguish the varieties. Terra di Romagna is instead the brand that applies to the rest of the production, i.e. persimmons and artichokes (whose production will be in full swing in 2025)."
"The campaign ended early this year due to the weather, but we are hoping 2025 will be good as we will increase the cultivated surfaces thus guaranteeing ongoing supplies."
The Società Agricola Guidi brands: (left to right) Albisole for yellow apricots, red apricots and plums and Terra di Romagna for persimmons and artichokes.
"We started harvesting our apricots over the past few days and we think the first quantities could become available already at the beginning of next week. The produce exceeds expectations for the period. We showcased the first samples at Macfrut as well as some new graphics that were very well received."
For more information:
Società Agricola Guidi
Divisione ortofrutta
Via Brasini 2 Bis
47122 Forlì - Italy
+39 0543.728296
[email protected]
www.agricolaguidi.com