Mauro Laghi
"Large retailers have woken up and started promoting kiwis, especially the medium grades, of which there are plenty. In this way, we are evening out our outflow, as larger grades are generally more popular."
But what is behind this renewed interest for kiwis? There is a series of reasons - first of all, the weather, as this spring is looking more like autumn. In addition, there are few apples available and production gaps for strawberries.
"Produce from New Zealand will become available with a 15-day delay, so the end of the campaign should be rather interesting. Instead of ending in late February, produce from Greece lasted until early April. We were expecting a livelier season but we'll have to wait and see how the latest events will improve the overall campaign."
Quality is very good, but producers must already start thinking about the next season. "Consumers purchase kiwis only if they're good and not hard. This means the fruit must be harvested at the right time and stored properly."
As regards the increase in golden kiwi consumption, Laghi confirms that interest for this type is high, but the green varieties continue to be popular. "The important thing is that the produce is good with a right balance between acidity and Brix levels. Orchard management, harvesting time and storage are essential."
Contacts
Alegra Soc. Coop. Agricola
Via G. Galilei, 5
48018 Faenza (RA)
Tel: (+39) 0546 624401
Fax: (+39) 0546 622513
Email: info@alegrait.com
Web: www.alegrait.com