TRADE AND MARKET I NG Italy: ideal testing ground for Dutch potato breeding which Gerard Schenk of Agroplant shows us. However, the Fobek-number FOB08-155-267, with Actrice as a parent, doesn’t react at all to a Sencor treatment, which is why he foresees opportunities for growing this variety in this area. Potentials for cultivation outside Italy are also discussed. These include two crossings from breeder Kannegieter, the numbers KM-13-101-18 and KM-13-10119. The first one produces big tubers and is more suitable for cultivation in North Africa. The second one produces more tubers and could possibly also be a candidate for cultivation in Italy, is Schenk’s comment. The cultivation of table potatoes in Puglia is primarily aimed at marketing in Italy and preferably in the breeders’ own region. This Dutch breeding product is also cultivated and marketed, for example, in Sicily and Bologna. If the cultivation volume of a first-early variety is somewhat higher and if it can compete with varieties in the country of marketing, than it’s used for export. As far as Puglia is concerned, it’s no longer about large volumes. Previously, in the period with crops of 10,000 hectares, many first-early potatoes from this region were exported to Germany. The Germans themselves, as well as the French, have now outcompeted this export position. Weather extremes also in Italy The fact that extreme weather conditions have become more and more of a problem recently in Italy, is experienced at first hand by the group of breeders when, after their visit to the trial field in Puglia, they travel from the west coast for over 200 kilometres through the central mountains range and arrive at the east coast near Naples. The rain is pouring down. This is a familiar phenomenon for the Dutch visitors, but here in southern Italy it’s quite exceptional, certainly for the end of May,when it’s the potato harvest time. Growers are measuring rainfall of up to 30 millimetres on that day. And this is not the only exception for them, because there have already been a few occasions with twice as much rainfall as normal. In a relentless downpour, a visit is scheduled to a few trial, The hectare yields around Naples are generally slightly higher than in the rest of Italy. This is partly due to the very fertile red volcanic soil, which in turn is due to the nearby famous and also notorious Vesuvius, looming here in the background. introduction and demonstration fields of HZPC-Italy in San Vitaliano near Naples. Because that’s how it works. The trading companies first test the varieties and numbers for their performance in the trial fields. If they seem to perform well for the local market, they’ll continue in introduction fields for the trading and packaging companies in the area. If they’re doing well there, the trading companies will try to inspire as many growers as possible for a promising variety by inviting them to the trial fields. One at a time, the local traders and packPotato World 2018 • number 3 29 Pagina 32
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