Fructícola Empordà, the only producer and marketer of Tessa apples in Spain, one of the newest apples on the market, harvested 700,000 kg of this variety last year; the highest production it has recorded so far. Based in Sant Pere Pescador (Girona), the Catalan company has doubled the figure achieved in 2023 and plans to quintuple its Tessa production in the coming years. It is also studying the possibility of expanding its cultivated area, which currently stands at 30 hectares, in the short and medium term.
In 2020, Fructícola Empordà joined the European Tessa club. This organization, which has just over a dozen members spread across the continent, manages the production and marketing of the Tessa variety to ensure that certain quality standards are met. The company produced 98,000 kg of Tessa apples in its first year and increased production by 7 in a very short period. According to forecasts, it will continue to grow sharply soon, with increasing consumer acceptance. Tessa apples are sweet and crunchy, have a characteristic red color, and can adapt to different climates and altitudes. They originated in Italy a few years ago in research that combined the Gala and Pink Rose varieties.
Four years ago, Fructícola Empordà started a pilot plan to observe how the apple got used to the climate and terrain of Sant Pere Pescador. Results were positive, despite being at sea level. From 2020 to date, harvests have increased from the initial 98,000 kg to the current 700,000 kg. In 2021, production stood at 120,000 kg. In 2022, it stood at 183,000 kg, and in 2023 it doubled to 355,000 kg. The company estimates that harvests will continue to double in the coming years. Other European companies such as Melinda, La Trentina, Valentina VM, Jolly Coop, FruitMasters, Suditiroler, Obstversteigerung, Kropfl Obsthandel, BB Fruchyhandel, and EVA are also part of the Tessa club. Including all of them, the 2024 harvest stood at 11,800 tons, spread over 490 hectares of cultivated area, a production area that continues to expand throughout the continent.
"Tessa is a great variety for the producer, marketing company, and consumer. Its strong skin gives it better resistance against bumps, injuries, and wear and tear due to weather issues. It also has a long shelf life and is easy to preserve. Consumers find its intense red color very visually appealing and that it has a good balance between sweetness and acidity," stated Miquel Roig, Manager of Fructícola Empordà.
For more information:
Frutícola Empordà
Email: [email protected]
www.fructicolaemporda.com