The apricot harvest is in full swing at the 340-hectare Albisole farm of the Guidi Agricultural Company in Roncofreddo, in the Italian province of Forlì-Cesena, in the northern Emilia-Romagna region. "After a delayed start, rising temperatures have allowed the season to align with initial forecasts," says Gianmarco Benvenuti, the fruit and vegetable production manager.
"We are in the midst of the harvest, and the overall quality of the product meets our standards," adds Umberto Benvenuti, the manager of the Carpinello facility in Forlì, Italy. "The early harvest was hit by a hailstorm, which led to some losses. About ten days ago, an intense rainfall event caused more than 100 millimeters of water to fall in just a few hours. At the moment, though, we are moving forward as planned."
This year, we placed a strong emphasis on our red apricots, which are the highlight of our selection. "Our red apricots are the real kind," the Benvenutis emphasize. "They have deeply colored skin and pulp, not just a sun-kissed surface. They have a high sugar content and a longer shelf life. However, it is essential to harvest them at the optimal ripeness and manage them properly in the field to ensure a premium product."
The market response is positive, as confirmed by Eleonora Callisesi, the Albisole sales manager. "Customers have already started adding red varieties to the yellow ones, and they will continue to do so until the end of the season. Red varieties will be available until mid-August, and yellow varieties will be available until the end of September. In the short term, we plan to invest further in red varieties."
Currently, all varieties harvested under the Albisole brand are protected by hail nets to ensure greater production continuity, even in the presence of extreme weather events. To further promote sales, a television campaign is currently underway on national broadcasters, underscoring the brand's strategic intent to increase visibility.
"The gauges are growing, and the Brix degree is steadily exceeding 13," Umberto Benvenuti points out. "Red apricots have less post-harvest waste and, although they have lower yields than yellow apricots, their higher commercial value guarantees their economic sustainability.
From a commercial standpoint, the Albisole project is gaining ground in foreign markets, especially in Northern Europe, thanks to its collaboration with Apofruit's Mediterraneo Group. This partnership enables both companies to maintain their operational autonomy while more effectively tackling markets.
Above are the brands of Società Agricola Guidi: Albisole for yellow and red apricots and plums, and Terra di Romagna for persimmons and artichokes.
Società Agricola Guidi's artichoke campaign is also coming to a close. "We are completing our final shipments," says Callisesi. "We are satisfied with the quality we achieved and our performance at the commercial level. The Terre di Romagna label promises quality and dependable trustworthiness."
For more information:
Guidi Agricultural Company
Fruit and Vegetable Department
Via Brasini, 2 Bis
47122 Forlì - Italy
+39 0543728296
[email protected]
www.agricolaguidi.com