In the heart of Vallo di Diano, an area located in the southern region of Campania, where agriculture has learned to adapt to climate change and structural challenges, Dario Gallo's farm embodies tenacity and innovation while maintaining a strong connection to the land. The Montesano sulla Marcellana company, located in the province of Salerno, grows strawberries above the soil in a micro-tunnel system supported by coconut fiber and perlite. Gallo describes the 2025 campaign, which is currently in the middle of the harvest season. They dug a new well to address the ongoing water shortage.
© Azienda agricola Dario Gallo
"We start when others have finished their season," Gallo explains. The Campania-based company operates within a production window from mid-May to November. During this time, other major Italian strawberry-growing areas, such as Piana del Sele, Policoro, Verona, and Parete, have already finished harvesting. This allows Gallo to offer fresh strawberries when demand is high but supply is low. Gallo is one of the few companies capable of providing quality strawberries during this time of year, along with the far north Trentino, which often contends with an excessively harsh climate and phytosanitary issues like drosophila.
© Azienda agricola Dario GalloToday, the company cultivates seven hectares entirely above soil, producing over 100 tons per campaign. By adopting above-ground cultivation, the company has overcome the limitations of the local clay soils and transformed a once-marginal area into a productive and sustainable resource.
The current selling price is around 5 euros per kilogram, leaving room for reasonable profit margins. However, every euro is reinvested. "We bought some land without taking out mortgages and rented out other plots. Every year, we start almost from scratch, but this approach gives us strength and credibility," he says proudly.
One of last year's main innovations was the investment in the automated fertirrigation system, Spagnol, which can be managed remotely via Wi-Fi. Every detail is controlled and can react quickly to changes in the weather or problems with the technology. This is done with a design that includes sensors, alarms, and many fertilizer tanks. "Previously, we would only realize that water or fertilizer was missing after it was too late. Now, the system immediately alerts us," says Gallo. The result is more consistent quality, greater efficiency, and the ability to customize nutrition according to the needs of different varieties.
© Azienda agricola Dario Gallo
Portola reigns supreme, but it's not the only one
The most cultivated variety is Portola, which is prized for its productivity and heat resistance, though it is less sweet. Types such as Vivara and Murano have also been introduced. They are more flavorful, but less tolerant of extreme heat. "The dream? A strawberry with Murano's taste and Portola's shelf life," says Gallo, who benefits from his father Raffaele's support and experience. Experiments are underway to find the best balance between flavor, shelf life, and yield.
© Azienda agricola Dario Gallo
Looking to the future
Our upcoming projects include a supply chain contract to renovate old buildings and provide on-site processing space. "Currently, we harvest and deliver nationwide. We would also like to take care of packaging and work directly with large-scale retailers or foreign markets, such as those in Switzerland," Gallo reveals. "This is a pivotal move in laying the foundation for our own marketing efforts, which are often delegated to external parties."
The company's vision is more important than its numbers. They aim to create actual wealth through an honest approach to agriculture in an area that has experienced significant youth migration. "We have given our people a choice: to work here with dignity. That is our greatest pride," Gallo concludes. With around 20 seasonal workers, the company has become a local employment reference point.
For more information:
Dario Gallo
Dario Gallo farm
Via Tempa, 6
84033 Montesano sulla Marcellana (Salerno) - Italy
+39 348 079 3129
