It is still too early to make an assessment on the next cherry season, but we can make a few assumptions. Curzio Firenzuola, area manager for Apofruit is certain that, "In the next two/three years, there will be a small revolution."
"The system is evolving. Once there were traditional orchards with tall trees with big foliage and low density, so production was not constant and a lot of labour was wasted. Nowadays, trees are lower, we use fertigation and harvest from the ground - we save a lot on labour, quality is more constant and so results on the market are better."
"In addition, said orchards are protected against rain, which caused a lot of damage during harvesting in the last few years. We are also trying to promote covers against cracking and Drosophila suzukii."
Apofruit's unit in Vignola.
Last but not least, there is varietal innovation, "which played a major role lately, as we went from traditional local varieties to selections crossed with excellent Canadian cultivars, so we will obtain excellent quality productions in terms of sweetness and taste."
Heat-sealed 500 gr packet, one of the formats available for Solarelli cherries.
Apofruit's plant managed by Firenzuola is located in Vignola, "which has the ideal condition to grow high-quality produce."
"We are not the only plant collecting cherries, but we are the only ones who also grow produce."
And it is in Vignola that most of Apofruit's cherries are cultivated. "Apofruit is trying to help its member companies and sells their produce with new packaging, new brands such as the Solarelli one and, of course, with the PGI mark, which we obtain for them."
Solarelli cherries are also sold in 2 Kg cardboard crates.
Considering all four plants of the cooperative, in 2014 1,570 tons of cherries were collected in total. Of these, 280 came from Romagna, 24 from Veneto and 465 from Apulia. In Vignola, "our 120 members harvested 800 tons. It was a very productive year and many companies had high yields also thanks to the weather."
Ciliegie di Vignola IGP punnet.
Of all the produce collected, 287 tons were sold under the PGI mark, +74% in respect of the previous year.
Contacts:
Apofruit Italia soc. coop. agricola
Viale della Cooperazione, 400
47522 Pievesestina di Cesena (FC) - Italia
Tel.: (+39) 0547 414111
Fax: (+39) 0547 414166
Email: info@apofruit.it
Web: www.apofruit.it