Italian producer organisation La Trentina has said it sees good opportunities to keep expanding production of Royal Gala in north-eastern Italy as it looks to satisfy strong demand for the variety in many of its export markets.
The company said it was looking forward to marketing a larger crop of Royal Gala apples this season, despite the country as a whole expecting a 13 per cent annual downturn in production of the variety to 278,000 tonnes.
The group's estimated crop of 13,000 tonnes, considerably higher than the 9,000 tonnes it sold in 2011/12, is also in marked contrast to an anticipated 6 per cent drop in production of Royal Gala to 1.07m tonnes across the EU.
The apple harvest got into full swing last week in the Val d'Adige district of Trentino, one of two provinces which make up the Trentino/South Tyrol region of north-east Italy.
Work has also begun to pick early-season apples in the nearby area of Rotaliana and in orchards north of Lake Garda, while harvesting in the hilly production areas of Valsugana, Val di Cembra, Lomaso and Bleggio was due to begin this week.
According to La Trentina's commercial manager Simone Pilati, frequent rain followed by consistently hot daytime temperatures have enabled the fruit to ripen 'perfectly' – in terms of shape, colour, taste and sugar-acid balance – this season.
As a result, the group is confident it will be able to supply clients in a good number of different markets over the coming months.
'Gala is an apple with a huge market,' continued Pilati. 'It's appreciated not only in Italy but also in Germany, Scandinavia, the UK, Arab countries and North Africa. In fact, almost 60 of our production is exported to these countries.'
This year's Gala harvest is set to be carried out in an average of three separate stages – more than usual – to allow the apples to reach the right levels of ripeness and colour.
'If the apple is not ready, we make it wait on the plant for 5-7 days,' explained Pilati. 'IN this way, the plant focuses its nutrition on the remaining apples and we can therefore obtain good-looking, juicy fruit at the right level of sweetness for this summer variety.'
He added: 'The excellent and positive response we have had from our clients means we are hoping for a positive season and we will continue encouraging our member producers to increase the amoung of Gala they plant.'
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