Italy: Melon and watermelon seasons have better start at O.P.O. Bellaguarda
“Hot weather at the beginning of the summer favoured the consumption of our products,” Zenari continues.
As for watermelons, there is less competition with products coming from Greece, where farmers invested a smaller surface due to the economic crisis (see also previous article).
On the other hand there is less supply of melons as there were difficulties with the fruit set in the first transplants, so yield per hectare is lower in this first part of the season. “Foreign supply is more limited as well, above all from Spain affected by E-Coli crisis in 2011.”
O.P.O. Bellaguarda trades about 8,000-10,000 tons of watermelons and 8,000-9,000 tons of melons. Melons tend to rise while watermelons tend to fall due to the competition with producers from Southern Italy in terms of prices and because watermelons produced in northern Italy are less profitable for growers.
O.P.O. Bellaguarda products are destined to big retail in Northern Italy, wholesalers in the same area and, in smaller volumes, to Northern and Eastern Europe.
“Trade in Northern Italy is a strategic choice in order to hold down transport and logistic costs by providing a fast and punctual service for a good, fresh product”, Zenari concludes. “From Bellaguarda warehouse products are sent according to customers’ needs: mainly in reusable collapsible plastic crates and in carton boxes.”
Product handling is quick and essential.
Contact:
Giovanni Zenari - Marketing manager
O.P.O. Bellaguarda s.a.c.
Via G. Leopardi, 181
46030 Viadana fraz. Bellaguarda (MN)
Phone: +39 (0)375 857003
Fax: +39 (0)375 857002
Mobile: +39 335 6320593
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cocomerita.it