Apofruit: strawberries continue to grow in the Metapontino area and are confirmed as a strategic crop

The strawberry in the Metapontino area continues to grow and is confirmed as an increasingly strategic crop for the producer members of Apofruit.

The cultivated area is growing

Although this crop is characterised by high investment costs and increasingly complex agronomic requirements, it continues to generate renewed interest and attract new members, so much so that in the season 2026-27 the cultivated area will exceed 150 hectares, with an increase of approximately 15-16 hectares compared with the previous season.

Comments

“It is a historic and surprising result,” emphasises Ernesto Fornari, general manager of Apofruit “because in around five years we have gone from 110 hectares to the current 150, with steady growth year after year. There are several reasons for this, and they undoubtedly lie in multiple factors: the considerable extension of the season (from December to May, which also allows for better management of the workforce), varietal research (which has enabled the introduction of cultivars that are valid both in terms of production and commercially, including Inspire, one of the latest arrivals, which has joined Candonga and Rossetta), the technical assistance guaranteed by the cooperative (from the outset, we decided to offer our members a consistent service six days a week), and the resources made available to our members through operational programmes (OCM). In addition, there is commercial planning that provides for a widespread presence in the main sales channels, from wholesale markets to organised large-scale retail.”

Raffaello Tita, category manager for Apofruit’s strawberries in the Metapontino area, adds: “The importance of the milestone reached is even clearer when one considers that strawberries are a particularly costly crop. Investment can vary approximately between 60.000 and 80.000 euros per hectare, depending on the year the crop was planted and the characteristics of the soil. For this reason, the growth in cultivated areas represents an important signal: it means that our members see promising prospects for this crop.”

The Basilicata Strawberry PGI

The prospects for the sector are also being strengthened by the development of the Basilicata Strawberry PGI, which experienced its first year of marketing in the last season following recognition of the geographical indication. In Apofruit’s case, of the approximately 60.000 quintals of strawberries produced in the Metapontino area during the last season, already more than 30.000 have been PGI-certified.

“The first year of marketing the Basilicata Strawberry PGI,” observes Ernesto Fornari “produced very encouraging results. Managing to certify more than half of our production within just a few months is significant and demonstrates the extent to which the project can represent added value for producers and the entire area.”

The PGI’s growth process involves a total of 11 producer organisations, covering a strawberry-growing area of approximately 1.250 hectares, of which approximately 700 are already certified. The next step will be the official establishment of the Protection Consortium, expected by October.

“The establishment of the Consortium,” observes Raffaello Tita “will represent another fundamental step, because it will enable the supply chain to have a single point of contact and to work in an even more coordinated way on promoting and enhancing the designation. Apofruit, moreover, will play a leading role, as it will be appointed vice-president of the Consortium.”

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.