The time for fennel from Romagna has come. Caligari&Babbi specialises in this production. "The market is going really well and prices are profitable. Quality is excellent and yields are also good. We're very pleased," explains Marco Babbi.
Half of the production is grown directly by Caligari&Babbi, while the rest is collected from other producers. Vittorio Caligari reports that "fennel wasn't really cultivated in Romagna up until 8-10 years ago. We developed a technique suitable for this area and managed to optimise production over the years. Other growers started following us and adhere to standards to obtain uniform quality."
The spring production is usually of high quality. In Romagna, a cycle lasts 60-70 days, so fennel are aromatic, fresh and vigorous. Transplants were carried out around mid-March. "We survived the spring frost thanks to non-woven fabric covers."
The company exports abroad and supplies the Italian retail chain. Wholesale prices for first-quality local produce hover around €1.70-1.80. Over 2 million plants were planted, so continuous supplies are guaranteed.
Vittorio Caligari and Marco Babbi
Crops are located in a 20 km area, so fennels are processed and shipped just a few hours after they're harvested. The construction of a new processing warehouse will start in the next few months.
Contacts:
Caligari & Babbi srl
Via E. Bevilacqua, 17
Savignano su Rubicone (FC)
Tel.: +39 (0)541 942599
Fax: +39 (0)541 201919
Email: commerciale@ortofruttacaligari.com
Web: www.finocchioitaliano.com