The Costa Group, a major player in the Australian wild berry world, will take part in the International Blueberry Days at Macfrut (May 3-5, 2023 at the Rimini Expo Centre). The appointment takes place on the first day of the fair (Wednesday 3) on the occasion of the symposium that will compare the world’s leading cranberry experts.
An event of international prestige, which will see the participation of Maurizio Rochetti, Chief Gardener of the Costa Group, a leading Australian company in the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables. Rocchetti has been working in Costa for ten years, worked as a Blueberry Production Manager within the Berry category and is now Plant Supply Manager, overseeing plant supply and varietal selection across all soft fruit growing regions of Australia.
“Costa is the leading Australian producer, packer and distributor of fresh vegetables and fruits and mainly operates in five main categories: berries, mushrooms, greenhouse tomatoes, citrus and avocados – explains Rochte, presenting the Australian Global Collection – 7,200 hectares of farmland, 40 hectares of greenhouse facilities and 3 facilities To grow mushrooms all over Australia Costa also has strategic foreign interests, with most of the joint ventures covering six vineyards in Morocco and four blueberry and mulberry farms in China, on an area of about 750 hectares planted.
Rocchetti focused on the cultivation of blueberries at the center of his speech at Macfrut’s International Blueberry Days: “Costa blueberries in Australia are grown in four different states and at five different latitudes on approximately 480 hectares. The different growing areas allow Costa to supply the fruit to its customers all year round. The production of blueberries consists of multiple varieties to suit all different environmental conditions, with a large proportion dedicated to the production of the distinguished “Arana” variety developed by the Costa Company.
The company has developed a specific blueberry program. It’s called the Variety Improvement Program and is globally recognized, with Costa varieties licensed in regions including the Americas, Morocco, China and South Africa. Based in Korindi on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, the program develops each year from one to two new varieties of blueberries that are valuable global business.”
He continues, “It uses the extensive network of Costa farms located at different latitudes, from cool temperate to subtropical regions, and evaluates and develops new varieties with different cold requirements, and therefore suitable for a wide range of global growing conditions, meeting the needs of global customers.” Using traditional plant breeding techniques, the team identifies and develops new cultivars that have been selected in different key environments for their performance in fruit quality, yield and agricultural outcomes.”
International Raspberry Days are organized by McFruit in coordination with Professor Bruno Mezzetti of Marche Polytechnic University together with Thomas Drahorad of NCX Drahorad.
The Macfrut International Fruit and Vegetable Fair will be held at the Rimini Expo Center from May 3 to 5, 2023.
for more information
www.macfrut.com
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