The sowing of new potatoes at Soc. Agr. Zito & Co in the Syracuse province has started. "For the 2023/24 season, we planned around 90 hectares of new potatoes, 60 sowed by us and 30 by producers who work with us. We increased the planted areas compared with the past season, also because we rotate crops by alternating potatoes with vegetables. We grow the Arizona variety, which represents around 50% of our production in the medium-early period, plus Cimega and Bellini in the medium-late period," reports production manager Francesco Zito.
"The weather is very important in winter, as we have to deal with rain, wind and frost. This year we also have to irrigate after sowing, considering the drought. Last year the weather was bad and compromised yields, especially medium-early ones. The climate change under way scares us, because these events are unpredictable and very dangerous."
Sales manager Simone Zito adds that "over the past few years, our company has increased the sales of new potatoes especially on the foreign markets, so we increased our production to meet demand, also improving the packaging and processing plant. We are positive as regards the new campaign, considering the low availability of domestic produce stored in units. Foreign markets too, except for the French one, do not have a lot of produce."
Photos supplied by Soc. Agr. Zito & Co.