CIV grows on the Iberian market: New strawberry variety ready for Huelva
Marco Bertolazzi
Four million plants of CIVL519 * / Shayda® planted. The partnership with VOG is also growing for the new apple variety CIVM49 * / Red Pop®.
“We plan to expand the project in the main producing countries of the Old Continent”, says Marco Bertolazzi
CIV-Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti, the Italian Nursery Consortium of San Giuseppe di Comacchio (FE), returns from Madrid Fruit Attraction confirming its interest in the Iberian market, in particular towards the innovation in the cultivation of strawberry.
“Thanks to our network of partners in the area of Huelva (Southern Spain) – says Marco Bertolazzi, Business Development Manager – we have concretely launched a development project of the new strawberry variety CIVL519* / Shayda®, with roughly four million plants being planted in the next few days and involving large local players (cooperatives, producers and export companies) . Such important achievement is the result of the networking and trial activities carried out in the last two years.
But not just strawberries. Apples too. Bertolazzi continues: “We are talking about a project that started several years ago. CIV Apples varieties are now produced in different areas of Spain and, thanks to our increasing presence in the area, Spanish growers are getting acquainted with our varieties and genetics which, until a few years ago, was little known”.
In parallel, the partnership with the Vog Consortium for the CIVM49 * / Red Pop® apple variety is entering into a scale-up phase.
“Vog is the exclusive European Licensee for the production and marketing of this new variety. After a significant planting phase in Alto Adige-Sudtirol, we are now evaluating with VOG to expand the project in the main producing countries of the Old Continent such as France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and the UK where we are already doing tests “.
CIV research also examines the pear sector, which is currently undergoing a profound crisis, in particular as regards the main variety, Abate Fetel. “We are looking for a variety, of any origin, of any breeding program in the world, that is able to adapt to the Pianura Padana (Po Valley) environment, with good productivity, at least 40 tons per hectare. An easy-to-manage variety, with medium-to-long shelf life (at least 6 months) and with taste and organoleptic properties that are more aligned with modern consumer needs. We are indeed talking about crunchy pears, for example, which can be eaten at harvest time”, concludes Bertolazzi.
Record card / CIV – Italian Nursery Consortium
The CIV – Italian Nursery Consortium – is a leader in Italy in varietal innovation and in the production of certified propagation materials. Active since 1983, based in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, in the province of Ferrara, the CIV is made up of three leading Italian nurseries in the sector: Vivai Mazzoni, Salvi Vivai, Tagliani Vivai. Through synergy, experience and significant investments in research, CIV is able to offer cutting-edge products that are more responsive to market needs. The CIV, with great foresight, has been committed for years to selecting varieties that can provide high quality productions with reduced energy requirements and low environmental impact. Overall, the three nurseries produce about 5 million rootstocks, 3.5 million apple, pear and stone fruit plants, 150 million strawberry plants every year. CIV is a founding member of the International New-varieties Network (INN), a worldwide association of nurseries that promotes the exchange, evaluation and marketing of new varieties in the main production areas around the world.
