Luca Castellino, the second-generation proprietor of F.lli Castellino in Villanova Mondovì, a town in the province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region of Italy, recounts an unusual year for chestnuts and marrons. Heading into the campaign with an early start and almost twice as much as last year, Castellino's account shows a clear picture.
The first notable aspect is the early arrival of the product at the collection centers. "Almost forty years have passed since our company was founded," Castellino explains, "and chestnuts have never been delivered as early as the first of September before. This was an entirely new event that took everyone by surprise, leading to an early entry into the market and generating a drop in prices and commercial chaos."
© F.lli Castellino
The weather played a decisive role. The 2025 campaign got off to an unusual start due to atypical weather patterns. Early autumn temperatures remained high, making it difficult for consumers to navigate the market. With an average temperature of 20 °C, people were buying melons and watermelons instead of chestnuts. We initially experienced a surge in sales, followed by a sudden slowdown. Consumers themselves did not know what they wanted. One day, they were looking for summer fruit; the next day, chestnuts. "It was strange," adds Castellino.
On the production front, the balance is positive in terms of both quantity and quality. After last year's shortage, this year's volumes have practically doubled. The chestnuts are healthy and a good size. However, Castellino is not fully convinced by some of the varieties. "The French Bouche de Bétizac, one of the first varieties on the market, is losing demand. It's difficult to peel and is suitable only for immediate consumption, so its eventual decline is inevitable. I advise producers to consider autochthonous varieties, also known as noble chestnuts: Garrone Rosso, Garrone Nero, and Marrone di Chiusa Pesio. These varieties have a future because they are hardy, tasty, and recognizable in the market."
© F.lli Castellino
Because the warm weather reduced domestic demand and caused an early start, it was primarily international markets that alleviated the situation. "We collaborated extensively with countries in Northern and Eastern Europe, where lower temperatures and favorable climates created ideal conditions for chestnut production. Platforms and distributors in Slovenia, Lithuania, and Estonia began requesting the product right away, enabling us to sell the initial batches. There, the early arrival of the Italian season was not seen as unusual, but rather as a valuable opportunity."
The situation in neighboring producing countries only contributed to the favorable conditions. "Romania was late with its campaign this year and did not produce enough," explains Castellino. "The same thing happened in Albania, where the product became available later. This meant that the initial supply from Italy filled the void. We fulfilled orders for their chains and distributors, creating a valuable commercial window that compensated for the slowdown in domestic consumption."
It was a precarious balance, but it allowed us to seize the opportunity. "Although it was unusual to start as early as September, we found favorable markets and seized opportunities arising from others' delays. Without these markets, absorbing such an abundant harvest would have been much more difficult at a time when no one in Italy wanted chestnuts."
© F.lli Castellino
The focus is now on the domestic market, which should pick up as the cold weather arrives. "With the drop in temperatures, we're anticipating a surge in demand. After an early and confusing start, we hope the season will stabilize and put us back on track," Castellino concludes.
For more information:
Fratelli Castellino Srl
Loc. Torre Bongiovanni, 1
12089 Villanova Mondovì (CN) - Italy
[email protected]
www.fratellicastellino.it
