The ALSIA report stated that, for the 2019/20 campaign, 836 hectares of strawberries have been planted in the Metaponto area compared to the 958 of last year. The 13% drop (122 hectares in total) concerns mainly 5 varieties: Sabrosa (Candonga), Marisol, Melissa, Florida-Fortuna and Sabrina. Only 59 of the 836 hectares are plants with plugs, while the rest is fresh plants.
Carmelo Mennone, manager of the Metaponto facility, explained that "the reduction is due to the careful work we carry out every year as we notify the various bodies of the quantity of plants sold all over the regional territory. We then define the total hectares. During the past campaign, we have had the highest figure ever, therefore, after this peak, there should be a consolidation period."
"The current hectares are basically in line with the past 4-5 years, when hectares hovered between 850 and 880. The most popular variety remains Sabrosa-Candonga with 624 hectares (74.64%) followed by Fortuna (6.10%) and Marison (5.86%)."
"Sabrosa was introduced in 2003 and, over the last few years, it represented three quarters of the strawberries produced in Metaponto with excellent feedback. Were it not so successful, producers would not have cultivated it so much and for so long. But there are new cultivars coming out that could bring harvesting forward and extend the production calendar. Despite the drop hectares, Basilicata remains one of the leaders of strawberry production on a national level."