Vivai Mazzoni, part of Tresigallo's (Emilia-Romagna) Mazzoni group, has three production sites: one is located in Ferrara and produces refrigerated strawberry plants, plugs, trays, waiting beds, pear plants, rootstocks and asparagus plants; one is in Verona, and it produces refrigerated strawberry plants and apple plants; the third one is in Poland and it produces fresh strawberry plants, which are uprooted in October to be planted in the Mediterranean basin.
The Mazzoni strawberry nursery in Ferrara.
Strawberries are indeed the flagship of the company, as Michelangelo Leis, director of Vivai Mazzoni and breeder of Ferrara's CIV - Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (Italian Nursery Consortium, headed by the Mazzini and Salvi groups), explains: "The turnover of strawberries is the one that has increased the most. Nowadays, we produce more than 100 million strawberry plants which we distribute all over Europe and beyond."
Michelangelo Leis.
There are many strong elements in our supply: first of all, varietal differentiation, which includes strawberries that need cool weather and are therefore ideal for Northern climates, as well as those that are suitable for the Mediterranean weather.
For example, Clery is the most popular early variety in Northern Europe. It's the main variety in France and Germany and among the most cultivated in Eastern Europe. It is appreciated also in Belgium and Holland, both in greenhouses and soil-less (strawberries are harvested as early as the end of February). In 2012, more than 70 million plants have been sold. This variety is now available in Canada and in the United States as well, thanks to a licence agreement with Nova Fruit.
Joly, another variety suitable for continental climates, is a crossbreed between the Darselect and Clery varieties: it is a seasonal strawberry (with the same harvesting period of the Elsanta variety), with a homogeneous shape and a taste similar to the Darselect one. It is ideal to be cultivated in tunnels or on open fields, but the best performance is in greenhouses.
The CIV has selected the Rania and Nabila varieties for Mediterranean climates, as they do not need soil disinfection and therefore enable the use of agricultural techniques which respect the soil, favouring the eco-sustainability of planted areas.
The productivity of the Rania variety is 30-40% higher than the standard varieties. The grade is big and regular. The pulp, which has an even red colour, is compact and resistant to handling. The taste is excellent, very sweet and with a great aroma.
"In order to reduce the environmental impact and to lower production costs, we have devised an exclusive technique thanks to which we can create a hostile environment during varietal selection, so that we can immediately identify the stronger crops." It is for this reason that the "Sweet Resistants®" mark is being placed on the strawberries developed by the CIV, which is the first Italian low-impact range.
The productivity of Nabila strawberries is higher than that of the standard varieties. Harvesting is prolonged and constant. Plants are perfect fresh as well as refrigerated, and the latter supply excellent production also in autumn. The taste is pleasant, with a good sugar content.
The productivity of Nabila strawberries is higher than that of the standard varieties. Harvesting is prolonged and constant. Plants are perfect fresh as well as refrigerated, and the latter supply excellent production also in autumn. The taste is pleasant, with a good sugar content.
Among the remontant varieties, Capri strawberries are drawing a lot of interest: "Almost all of Capri plants are sent to Great Britain, in fact, the produce is very much appreciated in retail. Capri is also ideal for soil-less hydroponic crops in Northern Europe, where Elsanta used to be the main cultivar."
Above: Capri strawberry plants destined to England. Below: Capri strawberries.
"As it is a remontant variety, Capri can be transplanted from the end of December until March, and its production continues throughout the whole season. This in turn enables the optimisation of greenhouse air-conditioning costs. Some producers have also managed to produce from one winter to the other without gaps, making as much as 150 tons of strawberries per hectare!"
The whole production of Vivai Mazzoni is carried out in pots. The company has 120 hectares in Italy and 80 hectares in Poland.
Plants undergo qualitative and phytosanitary checks in specific greenhouses-tunnels: "Here, we analyse their productive capability e.g. by counting the number of flowers per plant. Nursery activities take up more than 400 hours/year per employee. Vivai Mazzoni are the leading strawberry company in Italy."
"People from Iceland to Maghreb are now interested in our plants. We have also developed some experience in Eastern Europe: Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia. All of the varieties cultivated in these areas are Italian."
"Local production in Easter Europe is still limited, but they are keen buyers. This in turn offers great commercial opportunities for Italy, which can produce strawberries 12 months a year thanks to the different climate in the North and in the South."
Contacts:Società Agricola Vivai Mazzoni
Via del Mare, 4
44039 Tresigallo (Ferrara)
Ufficio Commerciale- Amministrativo
Tel.: (+39) 0533 607511
Fax: (+39) 0533 607890
Email: [email protected]
