With more than 100 hectares of orchards, the Acciarri farm in Ortezzano (Fermo) is among the largest and most organized in the entire Val D'Aso, Marche region. Pears, kiwis, peaches and nectarines are the main references grown by brothers Paolo and Marco Acciarri. "We have Coscia pears available until October, which we sell mostly to large-scale retail and Italian wholesale markets," explained Paolo Acciarri.
Acciarri can count on more than 5 hectares of Coscia orchard, with a total of about 250 tons of product harvested this year. "De-stocking is proceeding smoothly and we are satisfied with sales. The price range is between 1 and 1.60 euros/kg, depending on quality. These are not prices to be disdained, however, we were hoping for something better, also considering this year's production costs."
Paolo Acciarri
The main problem for the Marches-based company is finding labor. "It's really difficult to find workers, I won't say specialized, but even just general workers who are willing to work in the countryside. To get a high-quality product, harvesting has to be carried out very carefully and in multiple steps, and to do that, you need workers."
In the last century, the Aso Valley, along with the inland hills of Fermo and Ascoli, were Italy's main production areas for the Coscia pear, which, with its monumental trees over 8 meters tall, reached a total production of more than 10,000 tons. In the 1980s there was a decline in this cultivation, due to both low remuneration and difficulties in harvesting the old plants that could not be mechanized and, consequently, were not guaranteed by adequate security for farm workers.
"Now our company has returned to bet on this crop and we are planning to invest again in the Coscia pear," concluded Paolo Acciarri.
For more information:
Acciarri Società Agricola
Via Aso, 55,
63851 Ortezzano FM
+39 0734.770008
paolo.acciarri@acciarri.eu