The rain of the last few days though is not helping as "strawberries are delicate and rain can create shelf-life problems." Spain, the main competitor country, is going through the same thing.
80% of the produce is sold to domestic retailers, the remaining 20% goes abroad.
Thanks to 11 processing lines equipped with a rapid cooling system, strawberries are packaged in 250-500 gram flow-packs, 250-500 g and 1 kg single-layers, loose in 250-500 g and 1 kg packets or in 2 kg basket boxes.
"Demand is slightly higher than last year and quality is excellent. We are selling more produce but of course it is not like we are in April/May," says Ciardiello.
Sabrina is the most popular variety (70% of the production), followed by Fortuna, Benicia, Primoris, Antilla, San Andreas and Candonga. Other varieties from Spain and California are also being tested.
"We know how important innovation is, that is why we try to find strawberries that taste good but which also have a longer shelf-life."
As regards the Club Candonga, Pietro Ciardiello says that "all the initiatives made to promote made in Italy produce are welcome."
Contacts
Cooperativa Sole
Via Prov.le Parete - Tre Ponti
Parete (CE)
Tel.: (+39) 081 5036887
Fax: (+39) 081 5035111
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.coopsole.it
