Italy: The Verona strawberry campaign starts at APO Scaligera
APO Scaligera marketing team. From left: Willer Malagutti, Renato Plachesi, Valentina Giaccherini and Gianluca Bellini.
"In recent years – declared Primo Anselmi, president of APO Scaligera – we have concentrated investments on early produce and a high Brix grade, in agreement with our associate producers, the driving engine and true strong point of the coop. Early fruit enables us to anticipate the German production, in the most important market for sales of our strawberries, together with Switzerland, Austria and the Scandinavian countries. This year, the abnormal climate in April delayed the campaign by about a week; normally for our strawberries, the campaign should get into full swing by mid April. This will not be a problem however, since the climate also influences the dynamics of consumption, which are still week at the moment".
The production covers an area of about 250 hectares, all of which are located in the Province of Verona, enabling APO Scaligera to offer strawberries from the beginning of April until the end of December, for nine consecutive months. The most important varieties are the early Nora and the mid and mid-late Eva. These varieties are selected by APO Scaligera itself, together with the OP COZ, the Experimental Fruit Growing Institute of the Province of Verona and the CRA of Forlì (Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture, Fruit Growing Research Unit of Forlì). "For a long time now – the president explained – we have considered it strategic to invest in research and selection of varieties that are suitable for our territory, on one hand and, on the other, are suitable for the needs of our customers, especially large scale distribution. In the greenhouse of Isola della Scala, some 15 million strawberry seedlings are produced, which are later distributed to our members".
Although a rather large array of fruits and vegetable is offered today, strawberries are the most important APO Scaligera production, cultivated in protected cultures to defend it from damages due to temperatures and humidity. This enables us to realise spring, summer and autumn productions, distinguished by excellent organoleptic qualities, such as the consistency and bright red colour. The strawberry is a fruit that requires protection from parasites and fungus ailments, so the associated producers apply regulations to comply with the integrated struggle00 of the Veneto Region, which calls for the use of phytosanitary products with a low impact for man and the environment, using, where possible, useful insects as predators of other insects that would otherwise be damaging to the crop.
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APO Scaligera profile
With an annual turnover of around 40 million euros, APO Scaligera is one of the largest fruit and vegetable realities in the Veronese territory; the company was established in 1997 from the merger of several of the most important cooperatives in the sector, with a precise mission in mind: to develop collaboration, competency and quality in order to guarantee healthy products in line with the needs of the global market. The synthesis between the multi-decade experience of the three hundred associate producers and the young and dynamic management has permitted the company to stand out for efficiency, quality and reliability in the production and sale of a wide range of fruit and vegetables and to assert itself on the most important European markets, where a great deal of the production is delivered. The Santa Maria di Zevio warehouse, in the heart of the productive area, is capable of processing and packaging the products according to the most disparate requests of the clientele.
Contact:
APO Scaligera Sc
Loc. Ponte Rosso
37059 Santa Maria di Zevio (VR)
Tel: +39 (0)45 6068311
Fax: +39 (0)45 6068330
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aposcaligera.it
