After months of fluctuating production and complex market dynamics, Andrea Manca and Filippo Frongia of Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione, a company specializing in the supply of fruit and vegetables to supermarkets and part of the Agro Mediterranea group, take stock of the tomato situation and the impact of the weather on the harvest.
Among the most eagerly awaited news, Manca confirms the resumption of the marketing of the black tomato Noir, which "has been very successful and will soon be available again." In addition, the Moro Sardo continues to perform well, an exclusive variety that "is growing among customers: it is good, and when a product is good, it sells itself."
The situation is different for cherry and date tomatoes, which have experienced a period of declining production, accompanied by an initial increase in price and a subsequent slight decrease. "This is a physiological trend," explains Manca. "The low temperatures in January affected pollination: The flowers didn't develop properly, and the bunches had a reduced number of fruits. The bumblebees we use for natural pollination do not work below a certain temperature," he says. This resulted in a significant drop in production in March, which we are now gradually recovering from."
Despite the critical situation, the company was able to face the Easter period with a clear strategy: "We uniformly divided the requests to guarantee all customers a minimum of products and to avoid gaps in supply. Despite the difficulties, the company was able to meet its commitments to large-scale retailers: "All orders were planned and managed."
However, Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione decided to avoid taking on projects that were beyond its capacity. "There were some interesting requests, but without an organized structure to support these volumes, it is best not to start. We prefer not to compromise on quality. The biggest limitation? Lack of staff: "We have made enormous sacrifices, but resources are what they are. We have managed to reach all cultivation areas, but it has been difficult."
According to Manca, the product loyalty and improvement work carried out over the years is yielding concrete results: "Today we are also being called by new distributors. Our articles are making their way, and the signs are encouraging."
Artichokes: Demand is on the rise, but a bigger workforce is needed
The artichoke campaign is coming to an end for Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione. Filippo Frongia looks back on a very positive year, despite some physiological and organizational problems.
"As far as the fresh product is concerned," explains Frongia, "we are now at the end of the line. We expect to finish the Moretto, Spinoso, and Romanesco varieties by next week. For the packaged ones, we will continue until mid-May". A completion of the campaign that confirms the good general trend, both in terms of volumes and remuneration. "There have been some small problems of accumulation, but all in all, the season has gone well, also in terms of the average price."
What created some difficulties was the spike in orders during Easter week, which Frongia described as almost abnormal. "Never before have we had such a high concentration of orders in a few days. We had to cancel some orders, not because of a lack of product, but because of workload problems; we couldn't keep up with the demand." The causes? Perhaps a shortage of product from other suppliers, or unstable weather, that increased interest in certain products. "It could have been influenced by spring frosts or heavy rains in some areas," adds Frongia, "which caused customers to order more than usual."
Despite a drop in sales between January and February, caused by limited production, the Carciò packaged artichoke line showed an interesting increase. "We sold about 20% more than last year. And the feedback has been good with almost no complaints, satisfactory prices, and good production."
The focus remains on the domestic market. "We have not had any requests from abroad," Frongia points out, "and in this final phase, there is practically no international competition. The critical period is from 20 December to 20 February, when imported artichokes can cause problems. "But from March on, local production takes over and the market rebalances in favor of the Made in Italy products."
In terms of production, the strategy for the artichoke will be one of continuity, with a slight increase, but with caution. "We have found an optimal balance between production and demand. However, the unknown factor of the climate remains, the real X factor that can confirm or overturn any forecast."
Asparagus campaign ends on a high note
The green asparagus campaign for Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione is drawing to a close, with the harvest expected to end around 10 May. Frongia draws an extremely positive balance, emphasizing that 2025 marks a real leap in quality for this reference. "It has been a very satisfying campaign, especially when in March we doubled the volume compared to last year. Demand has been constant, with a well-balanced market that has maintained stable prices throughout the season. There was also no classic market downturn in the traditionally more critical post-Easter period. "This is a sign that the product was well received and well absorbed," says Frongia, "and there was not the usual contraction that characterizes this period."
The production area is about 40 hectares, not much, but well managed, with the distribution as follows: 60% of the volume goes to large-scale retail and 40% to traditional channels. This is a lean but effective model that has allowed the company to respond quickly and accurately to market demand. One of the most interesting novelties of the 2025 campaign was the strong customer interest in smaller gauges, in contrast to the past. "It was a surprise," explains Frongia, "because in the past the market preferred larger calibers such as G16 or 20+. This year, on the other hand, we received a strong demand for the 6-12 caliber, both from wholesalers and large retailers."
The company's production is entirely focused on green asparagus, packaged in bundles of 500 grams. The packages follow two main formats: 8 pieces for 30-50 pans, 12 pieces for 40-60 pans. This standardization allows for efficient cold chain management and greater uniformity at the point of sale.
The campaign will end on 10 May, a choice that is not random but the result of a precise agronomic strategy. "We do not want to overexploit the land," emphasizes Frongia, "because overharvesting could jeopardize the following year's productivity." A production philosophy based on agronomic sustainability, aimed at preserving the health of the soil and ensuring consistent yields over time.
Rain and delayed planting of melons and watermelons
It has rained heavily in Sardinia in the last few days, which is a blessing for the soil, but also an obstacle for operations. "We needed the water, but the bad weather has slowed down the transplanting of melons and watermelons in the field," says Manca. "This delays production by about 15 days."
Looking to the future, Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione wants to strengthen the organizational component. Our main objective is to improve human resources management. We are working with a consulting firm to select new profiles, also to reduce the management burden on us," Manca and Frongia conclude.
For more information:
Andrea Manca - Sales Manager
+39 342 3390390
Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione Srl
S.P. 56 Km 0.500 Loc. Perdalba
09027 Serrenti (SU) - Italy
[email protected]
www.agromed.it