"We are harvesting apricots of different varieties for the sale of fresh and the production of processed products, which will allow us to reach the end of July with the production conferred by the companies part of the consortium. The hectares invested are 35, but volumes are lower than in previous years. Consequently, demand is high. There is therefore a certain shortage of production, against an excellent quality of raw material also favoured by the absence of phytosanitary attacks," reports Giovanni Malcangi, sales manager of La Preferita OP Pugliese.
© Concetta Di Lunardo | FreshPlaza.comNicoletta Malcangi, agronomist and head of La Preferita OP Pugliese, and Ilenia Malcangi. The organisation produces fruit that it also processes into jams.
"La Preferita OP Pugliese was founded in the late 1950s and became a Producer Organisation in 2008. It covers about 450 hectares of land for fruit production and about 400 hectares for vegetable production. La Preferita OP Pugliese holds the most important certifications and places the quality of its fruit and vegetable products at the centre of its improvement strategy, taking care of production at every stage of the chain, from sowing to harvesting, to guarantee safe and high-quality products to consumers.
© La Preferita O.P. PuglieseApricots boast a distinctive and strongly aromatic flavour due to the presence of over 200 volatile compounds.
Despite the lower yield characterising the current campaign, interest in Italian apricots remains high on the European markets. Besides the traditional types, La Preferita OP cultivates the newest patented varieties such as: Mikado, Pricia, Orange Rubis, Faralia, Farbaly, Farlis, Memphis, and Nelson.
© La Preferita O.P. Pugliese
"By using selected raw materials," explains Nicoletta Malcangi, "we have encapsulated the flavours and aromas of ripe fruit in a jar, with original combinations that exalt the taste of each individual ingredient. The jams are made using artisanal processes, without the addition of colouring agents or preservatives, to offer a product that encapsulates all the fragrances of our land. Customers demand original combinations alongside the classic flavours. Young people in particular are looking for novelties. Product innovations include a jam made with apricot and mint, the freshness of which has also been much appreciated in other preparations. We also dared to combine apricots and basil, a very popular flavour mix to accompany soft cheeses such as ricotta."
© Concetta Di Lunardo | FreshPlaza.com
In addition to the production and processing of apricots, another flagship product of the PO is table grapes: "We will start harvesting the 100 invested hectares on 20 July. We will start with the earliest varieties and continue until December with the late varieties. The debut will be with the traditional Victoria and Black Magic varieties, which we will harvest gradually when they show a high sugar content. Later, we will market the seedless table grape cultivar Luisa as well as others. Consumers are oriented towards seedless, selected grapes with a high sugar content (approx. 16/22 degrees brix), for which no particular plant disease problems are reported in the current campaign. The climate is also in line with the plants' needs."
© La Preferita OP Pugliese
For more information:
La Preferita O.P. Pugliese Soc. Cons. a.r.l.
Giovanni Malcangi
SP. 30 km 2, 100 - 70033, Corato (BA)
+39 080 872 4468
[email protected]
www.lapreferitaop.it
