Despite some hailstorms and freezes, the summer campaign of the Ancona PO cooperative was certainly positive.
This is how Giovanni Ancona, one of the owners of the Fratelli Ancora commercial farm together with brothers Mario and Onofrio, describes the strawberry, apricot, peach, nectarine and fig campaign.
Positive outcome for strawberries
"The market trend in April was not one of the best because temperatures abroad did not favour consumption and because of overlaps with the Spanish supply. In May the situation turned positive and remained so until the first ten days of June. The weather was rather bad, and delayed German production too, to our advantage."
Apricots: extend the production period
The apricot season was characterised by good prices because of the lack of production in competing countries. In addition to this, the high quality of fruit meant Ancona PO could promote the produce in wholesale markets, stores and restaurants both in Italy and abroad.
New varieties will start producing next year, so we will be able to sell apricots throughout June and until July. Giovanni Ancona mentions the 0406 variety in particular, from the same breeder of Orange Rubis, which will enter the market after Lady Cot.
Positive trends for peaches and nectarines
"The campaign for peaches and nectarines benefited from two factors. On the one hand, there was no Spanish produce on the market, on the other hand, Northern produce did not overlap with ours, so we could sell them at the best time," comments Giovanni Ancona.
"Good campaign for the Nectaprim variety, Big Bang had a good feedback and even Laura, a variety that has been surpassed by new products, had a good season. Our poduciton of 500 tons of peaches, distributed over 50 days, means we have to take advantage of the early period, especially in countries like Turkey, which usually prefers the Russian and Asian markets, and Provence, which was hit by bad weather. Our peaches were mostly sent to the main markets in Germany," adds Ancona.
Fioroni figs, an Italian prerogative
15,000 fig plants, fioroni and settembrini, represent the main crop of the company. "We are still harvesting fioroni (the first figs) and then, after a break, we sill start with settembrini in August, which will be available until December. Lately, the market has been shifting towards black figs, which are more resistant and look better," points out Giovanni.
"This year was rather good for fioroni, as early varieties are a Puglia and Lucano prerogative. Our figs are mainly destined to Germany, where many Mediterraneans like Turks and Italians have emigrated. We export 70% of our production on average and the remaining 30% is sent to the main retail chains," concludes Giovanni Ancona.
Contacts
Op Ancona Società agricola cooperativa
Via L. Romeo, n. 7
75025 Policoro (Matera)
Tel. (+39) 0835 972149
Fax (+39) 0835 972473
Email: [email protected]
