"Italy: At "La Trentina" the 2012/13 season starts with Gala apples"

We can officially claim the 2012/13 apple season has started in Northern Italy with the beginning of the Gala variety harvest. The harvest of Gala consists on average of three pickings. This way the apples are picked at the right maturity stage: if the fruit is not ready it is given 5/7 days more on the plant; this allows the apples left on the plant to get to the right maturity.

This year's harvest of La Trentina, a consortium, is forecast to reach 13000 tons, compared with last year's 9000tons, but then extended hail storms slightly reduced the production. Frequent rains, followed by sunny days, have made for perfect ripening, both externally for shape and colour and internally for taste and balance.

The market for Gala is vast and diverse: it is appreciated not only in Italy but also in Germany, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Arabia and Northern Africa. Almost 60% of the production goes to export.

As reported by the Consortium salespeople: "The excellent production and the positive response of our customers let us hope for a positive season, so much that we keep advising our associated growers to increase the acreage invested in Gala".

Contacts:
Lorenza Negri
Consorzio LA TRENTINA
Organizzazione Produttori
Tel: +39 0461 421575
Fax: +39 0461 420011
[email protected]
www.latrentina.it