Italy: Fratelli Lapietra producing tomatoes using up to date methods
Long tomato plants are cultivated in plumb-line, beautiful bunches ready to be harvested. Bumble-bees flutter about and pollinate. Macrolophus are looking for parasites. This is a 5 metre high greenhouse in Italy, at the company Fratelli Lapietra in Monopoli (Bari, Italy).
Thanks to the training course “Soiless cultivations” given by Dr. Pietro Santamaria, students of Agricultural Science and Technology from the University in Bari visited the company Lapietra, which is specialized in the production and commercialization of tomatoes cultivated in substrates.
Five hectares of the land is dedicated to the cultivation of tomatoes in hydroponic greenhouses at Fratelli Lapietra.
Enzo, one of the Lapietra brothers, who showed the visitors around.
According to Enzo the main danger for this cultivation in greenhouses is the spread of viruses and pathogens which might destroy the whole cultivation. For this reason, before entering in the greenhouses the visitors had to wear suits, hats, shoe covers and glovers to prevent the introduction of pathogens.
The technique used to produce several kinds of tomatoes (beef, cherry and plum tomatoes) is hydroponics. Nourishing solutions are distributed by two drop irrigators for each plant.
Everyday electric conductivity and the Ph of nourishing solutions are tested and every 15 days a sample of nourishing solution present in the substrate is tested in a specialized centre. This test is useful to see how the concentration of nourishing elements changes with time and how they might correct it.
Under the plants, which are suspended and put in substrates on loglines, old leaves are put in after the shedding. They are a sort of “house” for useful insects and facilitate humidity on dry days. Every week hives of bumble-bees are added in order to allow the pollination of flowers.
The varieties are chosen by the businessman together with seed companies. Seeds are sent to The Netherlands where small graft plants are produced. When they reach 30 cm, in January plants enter in greenhouses to start the new cultivation cycle lasting about one year.
The company produces up to 50kg/m2 and wants to break down production costs with the integration of photovoltaic panels and other techniques aimed at production or saving energy (production of hot water for CHP, enrichment of CO2, etc…).
Plus, the Lapietra brothers have combined the activity of producers with sales. Recently they have built a warehouse in order to pack and deliver products (which are not kept for more than one day).
Lapietra brothers aim to improve their brand with a production based on quality, safety, quantity and continuity of supply.
In Italy, a country which has been defined “old fashioned”, this company counts on young people who are its centerpiece and the success of Lapietra brothers.
Contact:
Az. Agr. Fratelli Lapietra s.s.
C.da Stomazzelli n.c.
70043 Monopoli (BA) - Italy
Phone/Fax: +39 (0)80 6903204
Web: www.fratellilapietra.com