If in the three regions with a main olive-growing vocation – Puglia, Calabria and Sicily – expectations for the next campaign are cautiously optimistic, like The Olive News had reported in recent days (re-read the article , here), also in the rest of Italy the expectations are generally positive, even if without triumphal tones. After all, the rains in May have slowed down the fruit setting almost everywhere, while the heat wave we are experiencing these days is accentuating more or less marked drop phenomena that generate some concern. In any case, it is still early to make forecasts, which will only be more indicative at the end of August. So all that remains is to record the indications that come from producers and technicians from the various Italian regions.
SARDINIA – “We have moderate expectations in the north of the region and in the coastal areas where the climate has favored an early flowering, negative in the center of the island – he explains Aurelio Podda, vice president of the Sardinian millers association – due to the rains which then had an impact on the fruit set. On the whole, it won't be a large oil production this year, we obviously trust in quality”.
CAMPANIA - “Leopard-spotted production in Campania – analyzes Leonardo Feola, olive oil technician of Confagricoltura Salerno – where the coast has paid more than other areas for the torrential rains from the west, typical of this period of climate change, while the hinterland has held up better. The province of Salerno, which is the most olive-growing, has recorded fruit set difficulties in the northernmost part, unlike the Cilento area where, also thanks to late varieties such as Pisciottona, there is confidence in a good production”.
ABRUZZO – “If last year we could consider the production in Abruzzo good – he analyzes Silverio Pachioli, academic of the Georgofili, of the Academy of the olive tree and of the oil and of that of agriculture – for the next campaign, expectations are slightly lower, tending to be 20% less. The autochthonous varieties such as the Gentile di Chieti are doing well, those of the super-intensive ones are very bad. Widespread drop in recent days, which is affecting 10/20% of the production, more marked in Leccino”.
LAZIO - “More or less it will be a production in line with last year – he confides Andrea Quattrociocchi, from the Santanna mill in Veroli – not great, but still good. The rain in May reduced the setting, now this torrid heat has arrived which we hope will not create critical issues. In any case, we must be optimistic”.
BRANDS – "It does well in the cooler hillside areas that seem to have a good load of olives, a little less along the coast where the poor fruit setting is more expensive" he explains Gaetano Ugo Agostini, of the oil mill of the same name in the province of Fermo. "Even if it is obviously too early to make predictions, I think an average season is expected for the Marches".
UMBRIA – “We set out with great expectations for an excellent flowering – he explains Marco Viola, producer and president of Assoprol – then the rain certainly didn't favor fruit setting. Let's say that Umbria records patchy indications, where the flat areas have been penalized more, while things have gone better in the hills and highlands, in particular the one between Spoleto and Assisi where a good production is expected. However, we are in all five sub-areas of the Dop around 30% less than last year, when we had in any case recorded a good campaign. Now we have to keep an eye on the attack of the fly, especially with these sudden rains that generate humidity”.
TUSCANY – “It will be a year of discharge – he tells us Sandro Piccini, president of the coop Olivicoltori Toscani Associati – with a heavier situation inland and better along the coast, especially in the provinces of Grosseto and Livorno, which last year were instead the most penalized. However, it is still too early to make a definitive judgement, let's hope that the situation does not worsen further”.
EMILIA ROMAGNA - “Campaign in line with that of last year in Emilia-Romagna – he analyzes Antonio Volani, AIPO technical manager – with a fruit set that was quite good and a fruit drop in progress that shouldn't excessively affect the quantity of the final production”.
LIGURIA – “Not as disastrous as last year, but it will certainly be a campaign below what was hoped for in Liguria – he comments Gianni Benza, producer of Imperia – with fruit set held back by constant humidity and mist, without the rainfall that could have given water to the land, especially in this period where heat and drought bite a lot on the olive groves. Where it is possible, and there are few cases, it is irrigated, but it doesn't solve much”.
NORTHERN ITALY - From the indications that come fromInterregional Association of Olive Producers which collects associates in Veneto, Lombardy, Trentino and Friuli expectations are in line with those of last year when the campaign was discreet almost everywhere. Even here there are phenomena of fruit drop, but in line with the phenological trend.
