Investment in the project on creation of the Italian berry network

"Retailers recognize the quality of our products"

Spanish Planasa S. A. and two Italian groups - Mediterraneo Group SpA and Compagnia delle Primizie - cooperate and invest a project to create an Italian berry network, which can be a good competitor in the retail trade.

The plan is to cultivate about 14 hectares of raspberries Adelita, which will be available in the period from November to August.

Owner Planitalia (Italian division of the Planasa) Carmela Suriano explains that "the berry category is expanding in Italy, and retailers recognize the quality of our products. This is a great reason for the southern growing areas, as the tests were successful in Basilicata, Campania, Calabria and Sicily".

Variety will be cultivated and sold as a club and has excellent organoleptic qualities and good shelf life.

Small-volume cultivation of raspberries Adelita in Basilicata

Grade Adelita derived group Planasa is remontant and adapts well to the Mediterranean climate of southern Italy, so the berries can ripen from November.

The first landing held in late may - early July or during the period from early July to early August for low-capacity of growing in polystyrene containers with coconut substrate.

You can use the unheated greenhouse is equipped with shading nets and plastic films from the former gardens of stone fruit trees (with a width of 5-7m, 40-45m in length and 3.5 m in height). The estimated distance between rows of about 1.7 m and the distance between plants of 0.20-0.25 m to reach about 18 000 plants per hectare.

The berries are sweet with slight acidity, attractive and clean. Shelf life is excellent.

In addition, the variety is resistant to fungal diseases and mites and is ideal for southern Italy.

The first landing held since mid-may, and harvest begins in late September. Planting can be done every 15 days to July for harvest during the period from October to December. This became possible thanks to low-volume cultivation.

After the first harvest, the plants are pruned at a height of 1.5 m and provide a second harvest in spring in April-may. The average yield of 1-1. 5 kg per plant.

"There are several varieties in the South of Italy, which needs to be replaced, as nobody wants them anymore. Raspberry Adelita is the first step in this direction."

Anna Ustymenko,

Club Sirius Agro Plant