The seedless grape market is undoubtedly growing. But, within the supply chain, more transparency would be needed. Tony Romanazzi, a phytopathologic agronomist in charge of production and quality at Romanazzi Fruit, a company based in Castellaneta Marina (Taranto) specializing in organic fruit and vegetables and a member of the Bia Consortium, is convinced of this.
“We are continuously searching for our seedless organic grapes of different techniques to improve quality, we cultivate on different extensions with various types of plants – explains Romanazzi – But along the supply chain the position of some breeders is not clear. I understand that we must pay the royalties on the propagation material and / or even on the marketed product, but it is now difficult to understand the fact that only some players are authorized rather than others, eventually imposing the commercial channel in which to introduce the grapes we are in an economy free, but in light of the modus operandi in fact it is not. This situation is causing a lack of economic growth and then social growth for the whole territory! “.
The seedless campaign has just started in Puglia and the first results in qualitative terms are positive. “Despite a month of May with an unfavorable, cold and damp climate, it caused the delay in maturation – highlights the quality manager of Romanazzi Fruit – We do not register fungal problems and we have a decidedly good Brix development”.
A campaign that started late, therefore, but with good premises. “Yes, but let’s not forget that the first commercial window we played there”, points out Romanazzi who, in his vineyards, cultivates different seedless varieties “to give continuity to customer requests”.
Romanazzi Fruit is one of the founding members of Bia, an agricultural consortium of organic fruit and vegetable producers born in 2011 to serve large-scale retail trade; thanks to the consortium Bia is expanding its customer base both in Italy and abroad. The Apulian company is a producer, besides of seedless grapes, of cauliflower and Romanesco cabbage, but it also does an excellent job with clementine oranges.