Between 320 and 350 hectares will be dedicated to Dolce Passione watermelons this year thanks to the fact that Cico-Mazzoni group joined the consortium. "Our plans envision around 18/24,000 tons for the 2024 campaign, to be sent to both the domestic and foreign markets. To obtain these results, growers will use greenhouses, polytunnels and open fields," explains consortium director Luciano Trentini.
The peculiarity of "Dolce Passione" watermelons is the new-generation genetics represented by the Giotto cultivar (the fruit of years of research by Lamboseeds).
Sandro Colombi (Lamboseeds) during the technical day held in July 2023
"Giotto boasts a very thin rind of a bright uniform color. The crunchy and compact flesh boasts a lively red color and a characteristic sugary flavor. It is rich in fiber also thanks to the absence if seeds and the Brix level is always high when fruits are grown following the right protocols. As the cultivar is very fertile, it forms part of the midi watermelon segment, with an average weight of around 4-5 kg," explains Sandro Colombi from Lamboseeds.
Left to right: Roberto Castello, Carmine Alfano, Matteo Mazzoni, Stefano Rossi, Luciano Trentini
The Cico-Mazzoni group, which boasts over 100 hectares, has recently joined the consortium. "We are happy to give our contribution to the growth of this ambitious project. We were convinced by the presence of important players specialized in the sector and the awareness that we are managing an exclusive variety with great organoleptic qualities. We are ready to widen our watermelon range with Dolce Passione," adds Matteo Mazzoni, sales manager at Cico-Mazzoni."
Roberto Castello, president of Consorzio Dolce Passione
"We welcome the arrival of Cico-Mazzoni with great enthusiasm. Their joining will enable us to better manage the larger volumes produced and commercialized on both the domestic and European markets, Germany and France in particular," explains consortium President Roberto Castello.
During the latest edition of Fruit Logistica, a presentation was organized featuring consortium President Roberto Castello (Ortofrutta Castello), Carmine Alfano (Alma Seges), Stefano Rossi (Lorenzini Naturamica) and Matteo Mazzoni (Gruppo Cico-Mazzoni), coordinated by consortium Director Luciano Trentini.
Consortium Director Luciano Trentini
"Production areas are chosen among the best for the cultivation of this product. Sicily will be in charge of the earliest productions, followed by Puglia, Campania, Lazio, Umbria, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna Veneto and Lombardy. The main sales channels are domestic and foreign big retail chains."
For further information:
Consorzio Dolce Passione
+39 0425 958750
info@consorziodolcepassione.com