Solana group, a German seed multinational, produces and commercialises seed potatoes. It supplies 70 different potato varieties to over 40 countries and is constantly researching and selecting new varieties.
The innovative partnership between F.lli Torti and Solana was presented during Seed Potato day on 25th September 2015. "We chose this date because harvesting has just ended and in November we will have to decide which varieties to sow for the 2017 season," explains Cleto Torti.
"The Solana varieties we have tested in Italy are Queen Anne, Toscana and Sunshine. Yields were very interesting and quality was promising. This year, average production was 50 ton/ha."
F.lli Torti sells its produce to retailers and wholesale markets all over Italy.
"We are always looking for new varieties as we want quality to be excellent and meet our clients' expectations," explains Piera Torti.
"We hope a real cooperation has started. Yannick Lefèvre, who represents Solana, supported us from both a commercial and technical point of view."
Yannick Lefèvre, President of Solana France Sas, added that "Solana is a German company that was established over a century ago. It produces and commercialises new potato varieties. Its objective is to supply cultivars that meet different climate, soil and agricultural demands and that represent a solution to defence, yield and quality problems. We organised this event to present the Queen Anne and Sunshine varieties, which are quite young and were registered in 2012-2013, as well as Toscana, which is older but has been tested in a number of different conditions."
Solana has an international policy, with a distribution network in Europe and in the US. It is a family business with a sole owner and is different from other multinationals because it has always been run by the same family. "This is an advantage because relationships are much easier. We are happy to work with another family business such as F.lli Torti."
"Rusticity is always at the base of our research." In order to start producing a variety, Solana examines 50 parameters (rusticity, precocity, yield, quality, resistance to diseases and drought, shelf-life, etc.). The three presented during the event all have a yellow skin and flesh.
"From what we have seen so far, Queen Anne could replace Agata. In 2015, when production of the latter was affected due to the weather, Queen Anne had a yield above average. "We are looking to continue testing Queen Anne and to also assess Toscana and Sunshine," concludes Gaetano Torti.
The varieties presented:
Queen Anne is an early and rustic variety with excellent yields and a good taste. Tubers are oblong with yellow skin and flesh. They are easily washable and are suitable for processing.
Sunshine is a very early and highly productive variety. Tubers have an oval shape with a light yellow skin and deep skin flesh. Perfect for washability.
Toscana is a medium-early rustic variety with a high productivity and long shelf-life. Tubers are round-oval with homogeneous grades. Yellow skin and flesh.
F.lli Torti would like to warn all producers that seeds can be booked for the next campaign so as to reserve the preferred variety and grade.
Queen Anne is an early and rustic variety with excellent yields and a good taste. Tubers are oblong with yellow skin and flesh. They are easily washable and are suitable for processing.
Sunshine is a very early and highly productive variety. Tubers have an oval shape with a light yellow skin and deep skin flesh. Perfect for washability.
Toscana is a medium-early rustic variety with a high productivity and long shelf-life. Tubers are round-oval with homogeneous grades. Yellow skin and flesh.
F.lli Torti would like to warn all producers that seeds can be booked for the next campaign so as to reserve the preferred variety and grade.
In addition to the varieties presented during the event, F.lli Torti also supplies other varieties available in the Solana catalogue. (www.solana.de)
For technical information on the varieties and to make order, contact the company offices or write to patatedaseme@fratellitorti.it
Contacts:
F.lli Torti srl
Via Marconi 54/61
15050 Molino dei Torti (AL)
Tel.: (+39) 0131 854363
Fax.: (+39) 0131 854188
Email: info@fratellitorti.it
Web: www.fratellitorti.it