In the Metapontino area of Italy, the 2021/2022 strawberry season for the early Fortuna variety started a few days ago, and demand is already exceeding the supply, said Giovanni Passarelli, a young entrepreneur from Scanzano Jonico (Matera), owner of the company of the same name.
"Customers tell me that the strawberries are sold within half an hour of arriving on location. They ask me to increase the number of supplied strawberries, but for now, availability is still limited. There is a lot of demand for strawberries in Italy, even in the autumn/winter months, especially in the northern regions."
Giovanni Passarelli
"I supply some general markets in the north, such as those of Milan and Bergamo, and also some in Apulia. These are the first days of the harvest, so quantities are still low, but fortunately, they are gradually increasing. At the beginning of November, we started with a little more than 30 boxes and now we already have 120. At the moment, we are harvesting every 4 or 5 days, but I think I can increase the quantities starting from the first ten days of December. In terms of prices, the trend seems to be a positive one, with prices between €14,00 and €17,00 for a 2 kg box in northern Italy."
"This is the first year I have grown the Fortuna variety. The transplanting was completed in mid-September, and after just under 60 days, the first strawberries were already harvested. I had underestimated the variety until now, as I was only involved in the cultivation and commercialization of Sabrosa-Candonga from January to May. The Fortuna strawberry plants are in excellent condition: there are a lot of flowers and green strawberries on the plants, but, although the temperatures have been mild for the past week, the low light has delayed the discoloration of the strawberries."
Fortuna strawberries
"Demand and prices are very high, as is the appreciation of the early strawberries, which, despite the period, are fragrant, excellent in size, tasty, and have a high sugar content. Given the current commercial trend, I could have planted more acres, but the labor shortage frightened me - and still does."
The 2021/2022 strawberry season in Metapontino has just begun and will end in June 2022.
For more information:
Azienda Agricola Passarelli
Via Andriace, 19
75020 Scanzano Jonico
+39 320 9134551
agricolapassarelli@libero.it