The first apricots of the Ninfa variety are already being harvested in Puglia. Approximately 4-5 tonnes/day enter the warehouse of the Spina Group, which are then processed and sent to Italian customers. The volumes will tend to double starting from next week (the 17th in 2025).
Ninfa apricots
The company is based in San Ferdinando di Puglia (BAT). The owner, Francesco Spina, explains that "We are among the first in Europe to have new-season stone fruit on the market. Harvesting operations started on 15 April in greenhouses, which are equipped with gas heating. It is a crop of 700 apricot plants, which allows us to test the market and get a feel of operators, as well as to obtain satisfactory quotations. We are gradually starting with supplies to the fruit and vegetable markets in Verona, Florence, Milan, Rome, Padua, and Turin. As soon as we start with the uncovered plants, we will also start shipping to European supermarkets."
First packages shipped to the Italian markets
The entrepreneur explains that it will take at least another 15 days before harvesting can begin in the open fields. "The last three weeks have been characterised by frequent and considerable temperature fluctuations. There has also been some late frost, which has slowed down the growth and ripening phases."
But while the new stone fruit season that has just started seems to be promising on the commercial front, farmers are seriously concerned on an agronomic level, and when it comes to water availability. Compared to a normal year, we are registering a reduction in yields of over 15% for open field plants, due to a severe water crisis. We are experiencing difficulties in getting the crops going as early as April. If the plants are not irrigated in the coming months, there could be severe drops, and we will have to revise estimates downwards, with a drop of even more than 50%."
The Apulian company Spina Group grows various cultivars (both early and late), plus there are the crops of local growers, thereby exceeding 100 hectares dedicated to apricots, peaches, and nectarines, with a commercial calendar that extends to late September.
For more information
Spina Group Srl
Via Giovanni Nicotera, 54
76017 San Ferdinando di Puglia (BT) - Italy
+39 345 848 12 22
[email protected]