The Romagnoli F.lli S.p.A. 2019/20 potato harvest was a very good year, having ended back in April this year.
The commercial and organisational policies of this company from Bologna rewarded it with high-quality produce, meaning that potatoes delivered on consignment, as part of the 2017/2020 Framework Agreement for the sale of fresh ware potatoes, were worth €350/ton (€0.35/kg) for premium grade products (+3% on the figures from the 2018/19 harvest).
“The increased demand for potatoes recorded during the COVID-19 emergency led to the product finishing almost a month earlier than in 2019”, explained Giulio Romagnoli, the CEO of Romagnoli F.lli S.p.A. The not particularly strong consumption trend prior to the lockdown affected prices during autumn and winter up until January, actually stopping us from seizing the commercial opportunities that the market could offer”.
The good results from this most recent harvest have come from a company policy which focused on innovations with varieties, investment, strengthening the organisational structure - both in terms of technical support in the countryside and improving commercial offices - as well as increasing the number of “premium” products on sale thanks to brands such as Selenella® and Patata di Bologna D.O.P.
These were recently joined by the production of “Residue-Free*” potatoes, which are covering an ever-growing area within the range, products which really embody Romagnoli F.lli S.p.A.’s own values of quality, regional links and environmental and economic sustainability. The company intends to keep focusing on these products with an ambitious production programme to ensure that produce is available all throughout the year. The production areas have therefore been expanded beyond Sicily, rolling out production to the Fiumicino plains and to the province of Bologna.
“When you achieve great results”, Mr. Romagnoli emphasised, “the credit should go to the system. In this case, it is the Emilia-Romagna potato system, which is still the only example of a real controlled production chain in all its phases, where the key players work with the same goals. The good quality of the produce, the high professionalism of the producers, our organisational and commercial capacity, the effective collaboration and availability of customers, as well as the favourable climate conditions have synergistically led to excellent value sales”.
*Chemical residues legally permitted under the limits of analytical determination (0.01 ppm) and residues of plant protection substances authorised for use in organic farming (pursuant to Annex II of EC Reg. 889/2008), up to a maximum of 50% of the Maximum Residue Limit.
