Carrot harvest!
This week, it kicks off: two weeks earlier than usual, the first carrots will be harvested at Natursi in Sicily. On the sunny Italian island too, the winter was particularly warm and allowed the root vegetable to ripen earlier. The spring carrots are softer and somewhat sweeter than those harvested later.
With a so-called combine harvester, the carrots are pulled out of the ground onto the sheets. At the same time, the earth is loosened up, so that the carrots can come out unbroken where possible. Whilst still on the field, the attached greenery is cut off mechanically on a conveyer belt. The carrots are then brought to the nearby storage facility, cleaned in a washing-bay and bagged in small sealed freshness bags.
The composition of the ground and the favourable climate by the sea enable Natursi to cultivate diverse varieties: in addition to the carrots, courgettes, potatoes and artichokes are also cultivated according to the strictest organic rules.
Natursi belongs to three brothers: Giovanni, Marco and Massimo Spataro. They took over the business from their father several years ago, he himself having also worked organically. Their own machines and storage facility, plus an organic shop in the town of Ragusa, complete the Natursi organic offer.
BioTropic has been working together with Natursi for more than 10 years. Of course, this includes regular visits from our Italian agricultural engineer Mauro Finotti for the purposes of quality control and advice.
Date: March 2014
Tags: Italy (GB), Mauro Finotti (GB), Carrots (GB), Natursi (GB)
