Agronomist Ignazio Pellegrino and Leonardo Bertolino, who is co-owner of the company together with his father and sister.
Azienda agricola Bertolino seems to be a western Sicily extension of businesses found in the south-eastern coast of the island. It produces greenhouse vegetables such as tomatoes (3 hectares), courgettes (2 ha), peppers (2 ha), green beans (1.5 ha) and aubergines (2 ha) as well as watermelons in polytunnels (8 ha in total).
What is more, the company also grows 3 hectares and a half of the famous strawberries of Marsala in greenhouses, although the crop has suffered a bit this season.
San Marzano tomatoes
"This year's campaigns haven't been the best. Courgette harvesting ended last month and prices haven't been satisfactory, but at least quantities were good and there were no disease problems. Prices of tomatoes have been average so far, despite the fact that they have been lower elsewhere in Sicily. This happened thanks to the fact that we grow the Uriburi variety, which is hard to cultivate but which has actually made the difference."
Netted melons
"The strawberry season is almost over, as it started in December and will end in May. Unfortunately, fruits were affected by a few diseases and by the presence of red spider mites. We will now have to wait and see how the melon and watermelon campaign evolves, as it's still too early. We are rather positive though, as plants look well, which could possibly lead to excellent yields and good quality."
Watermelons
Last year, they started working with a company specialising in the freezing of products for restaurants and ice-cream parlours. Vegetables are distributed on the Italian markets.
Contacts:
Azienda Agricola Bertolino Tommaso
Contrada Strasatti
91025 Marsala (TP)
Tel.: +39 338 15 91 191
Tel.: +39 329 11 43 980
Email: bertolino.leo@alice.it