“The time has come to branch out in Basilicata, Italy. This region has exceptional climatic and soil conditions to produce small fruits 12 months of the year. Along with other local business activities, we are focusing on the cultivation and marketing of berries, a sector that has been growing steadily in recent years. It is an ambitious project that will see the start-up of 120 new hectares of raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and baby kiwis", reports Nicola Gentile, an entrepreneur from Policoro (Matera) with more than fifty years of experience and owner of Gentilfruit, a 50-year-old company. hectares and with clients throughout the national territory.

“The mission is to produce fully Italian fruit grown in the hilly and mountainous areas of the Lucania territory, as well as in the Metaponto plain, an area known for its production of Candonga® strawberries. It is a demanding challenge, but not impossible. There are many producers who are converting their facilities”, he says. 

Berries Basilicata

Potential

“Basilicata has a lot of potential to become the largest production center in Italy. We have the professionalism of the producers who participate in this important project, however, a satisfactory income must be granted to those who invest in it”.

“The cultivation of berries will go hand in hand with that of strawberries, which currently covers a thousand hectares in total. These crops cannot be extended due to labor problems. In our region, Candonga® is a recognized brand of strawberries and market uptake is proportional to production, also thanks to higher sales prices compared to other cultivars."

Berries Basilicata

"In my group, soft fruit growers are already active in greenhouse cultivation, especially stone fruit, although they are going through a period of crisis. However, there are also some strawberry growers who want to introduce new crops, as they want to replace winter vegetables. Berries are a winning solution, as the existing facilities are perfect for their cultivation."

“The distribution of the production over a long period also in the autumn-winter months will help the cultivation of strawberries in terms of obtaining labor from the nearby regions, since it is usually concentrated only in March-May” .

“We are currently registering our brand, which will be recognized by the large chains and retail markets. A brand is synonymous with high quality, respect for operators and the environment, traceability and Italian origin ”.

Berries Basilicata

“We will focus on offering solutions that can bring considerable profit to producers, who are now tired of the problems of the agricultural sector. More than a crop revolution, I would consider it a cultural revolution in the agricultural world, caused by the producers themselves”. . ”

Regarding the varieties that will be planted, Nicola explains that “it is essential to guarantee continuity throughout the year. For this reason, it is important to have more than one reference variety to satisfy consumer needs in terms of organoleptic qualities and at the same time to have the product available for as many months as possible to avoid having to source from abroad. In Basilicata, we have the possibility of producing throughout the year, but we are also talking with other producers in central and northern Italy to strengthen this project."