The 2- or 3-row strawberry growing system under the brand name Combimetal Carrera is currently being installed across four farms in the southern Italian regions of Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria.
"Some growers tested our innovative growing systems for strawberries on substrate on a small area last year, and after seeing the multiple benefits, they have now moved on to a larger investment for 2023/24. We will soon start installing our cultivation systems on 4 farms in the provinces of Lecce, Cosenza, Crotone, and Matera, for a total of 4 hectares. By 10 September, everything should be completed. The farms are now prepping the site, awaiting our arrival for the installation phase. The assembling of the ferrous components is carried out directly in the fields, thanks to our movable machine, capable of working up to the length of the entire greenhouse (40 meters). This ensures that there are as few gaps as possible between the different trays," says Antonio Carrera, designer of an innovative system for growing strawberries with up to three height-adjustable rows.
Combimetal Carrera, a company from southern Italy that specializes in steel structures, including greenhouses, has already completed some 20 hectares of construction over the past two years in various Italian regions, such as Sardinia, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, and The Marches.
The system, with 3 gutters spaced 50 cm apart, greatly facilitates working conditions in the field, not only for the harvesters but also for all those working from the start of the season, including those planting. Substrate cultivation ensures higher productivity and a tidier cultivation site.
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"While interest and curiosity about hydroponic substrate products is growing, there is also skepticism and distrust among horticultural entrepreneurs, who may have burned their fingers on previously failed investments. During the past strawberry season, existing and potential customers visited some plants in other cultivation companies at different times of the year to evaluate the performance of the plants, from the sprouting of the first flowers until the end of harvest," continued Carrera.
"We probably launched this new cultivation system at the worst time possible because of the pandemic and then the rise in commodity prices, the energy crisis, and finally, the international stress resulting from the war in Ukraine that led to some major socio-economic crises. Global uncertainty has inhibited investments and prevented entrepreneurs from serenely looking to the future. Now the situation has improved, with commodity prices down by up to 40 percent. We think we will be allowed to install many new strawberry growing systems, especially before 2024/25."
For more information:
Combimetal Carrera Srl
Via Lido 3
75025 Policoro (MT) - Italy
Tel.: +39 0835 973481
Email: [email protected]
combimetalcarrera.it
