One such case is the cooperative company Biologiki Anaptiksiaki Messaras (Bianame). As Mr. Nikos Yasakis, agronomist at the company, explains, this is the first season in which none of the company’s producers planted either melons or watermelons. “In previous years, we would have had organic-seeded watermelon and organic Galia melon, mainly the varieties Niovi, Zepo, and Lavigal, from March until June. Last year, we planted very few hectares, while this year, there were no plantings of these products at all. Their commercial performance was very difficult, and we replaced them with 14 hectares of peppers and 3 hectares of mini cucumbers. So far, it is not in the plans of our producers to return to these products.”
Regarding the production and commercial performance of Bianame’s alternative choices, Mr. Yasakis says he is satisfied: “Commercially, producers have been satisfied so far. In production terms, we obtain 80-90 tons per hectare for peppers and 100 tons per hectare for mini cucumbers. In mini cucumbers, we consistently harvest fruit weighing around 200 grams throughout the year, but in peppers, as temperatures rise and the days become longer, the product itself also grows larger. Thus, while during the winter we harvested fruit weighing 60 to 120 grams, we are now harvesting fruit weighing 80 to 180 grams. Harvesting of the peppers will be completed during June, while for cucumbers it is already coming to an end.”
However, production costs have increased. “There is not a single production factor that has not become more expensive, from fertilizers and fuel to labor costs. I estimate the increase in production costs at more than 10% compared to last year,” concludes the agronomist of the Cretan company.
For more information:
Nikos Yasakis
Βianame
Tel: +30 2892 052338
Email: info@bianame.gr
https://www.bianame.gr/
