"We are currently in the midst of the promotional campaign for the green Piel de Sapo melon, which is marketed under the Il Nuragico brand and will span the entire month of September. Meanwhile, on 18 August, we concluded the mini watermelon and Soledo melon campaigns with positive results," says Filippo Frongia, a partner with Andrea Manca of Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione, a company that specializes in supplying fruits and vegetables to large-scale organized distribution.
The tomato season was fairly balanced until 10 August. However, since the end of July, rising temperatures have caused a significant loss in production, resulting in a real production gap. "The situation is most critical for cherry and Piccadilly tomatoes," Frongia emphasizes. "Datterino tomatoes have remained relatively stable." The shortage has had an immediate effect on the market. Prices have increased by as much as €1.50/kg in just six days, reaching record levels.
Large-scale organized distribution is thus faced with reduced and irregular assortments. In addition to cherry and Piccadilly tomatoes, more delicate varieties, such as oxheart tomatoes, have practically disappeared from the market.
"We are still producing our farm's Datterino tomatoes and trying to maintain existing supplies, albeit with some difficulty," adds Frongia. We have finished the summer campaign of cherry and Piccadilly tomatoes. Overall, despite the difficulties of the last few weeks, we can say that it was a positive and balanced summer for the products we had on the market until the beginning of August."
Heading toward the autumn produce
A significant development is that Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione is entering the leafy vegetables sector, which is new ground for the company. They are now producing well-established crops such as parsley and celery. "We are very satisfied with this work," Frongia stresses, "because it is yielding positive results. On 10 September, we will begin all the new autumn sowings, and we are seeing an increase of almost 50 percent compared to last year's planned areas."
© Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione
With regard to the diversity of leaf types, a number of varieties are cultivated, including, but not limited to, Romana, Trocadero, Iceberg, and Gentilina. The Italian market remains the primary destination, with a dedicated supply for some large-scale retail chains.
© Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione
The issue of residues is receiving a lot of attention. "We are working on increasing control. The goal is to have five active molecules present at 33% of the maximum permitted amount (RMA) and to ensure that the total amount is at least 80%," Frongia explains. "It is a challenging process, but we are keeping up with production today. "Thanks to the protocols we have adopted and the economic feedback, the difficulties are becoming fewer and fewer. We are close to achieving a level of automation that guarantees quality and safety," he adds.
© Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione
The focus is already on the autumn. "We are carrying out installations on our own farm and with our consortium members. The next campaign will be for artichokes and should start a bit early, unless there are any more extreme weather events," Frongia concludes.
For more information:
Andrea Manca - Sales Manager
+39 342 3390390
Agro Mediterranea Distribuzione Srl
S.P. 56 Km 0.500 Loc. Perdalba
09027 Serrenti (SU) - Italy
[email protected]
www.agromed.it