Every year, raspberry availability drops between the end of the winter season and the start of the spring season. Operators report that supply has been limited over the past three weeks, which is making prices skyrocket all over Europe.
Despite the lack of availability, however, there are those that are supplying constant quantities thanks to their prompt planning, like Gentile Group, a company from southern Italy specializing in the production and sale of strawberries and berries.
Founder Loris Gentile reports that "our local produce is available. We work by trying to identify when there could be gaps in supply for each product in order to adjust peaks, also depending on foreign transplants. In the fall of 2023, we managed to center the harvesting of strawberries in November and December to intercept the gap that precedes the production of bare root plants. We are now replicating this strategy with raspberries."
"The gap will prolong for some time, but we are certain we can guarantee suitable volumes for the entire period. 90% of our product is commercialized under the Fruttini italiani® brand in 1 kg trays containing 8 125 gram punnets. We ship 1,500 packets a day. Only 10% of our produce is destined to our clients/competitors, with whom we have close commercial relations. We have come a long way over the past three years, and supplies are guaranteed all year round. The berry range also includes blueberries, currants, and blackberries."
Francesca Quinto, co-founder of Gentile Group, adds that "we are working on the Candy®-Selezione di Pregio project for our berries too. We want berries to be enhanced by capillary qualitative selection when it comes to both their appearance and flavor. We have retained final consumers with our brand. We receive numerous requests from European buyers every day and are working hard to meet all of them. We are managing it so far, and we are proud of it."
For more information:
Gentile Group
Via S. Valicenti, 6
75025 - Policoro (Mt)
Tel.: (+39) 379 2280437
direzione@gentilegroupitalia.it
gentilegroupitalia.it