Tropical fruit enters the expenditure of Italians with a straight leg: avocado and mango crops with highly beneficial and healthy properties on the podium. With the pandemic, we have witnessed a progressive surge that led to a 2021% increase in avocado consumption in March 500, but production is still not sufficient to meet an ever-increasing demand. Two exceptional products that have revived the fortunes of the Salento company Cairo & Doutcher, European leader in the production of pomegranates, after the Xylella has destroyed thousands of hectares of olive trees. Despite the huge losses, the Cairo family did not give up and looked for a new path, made of tropical fruit but also of many other plants, apples, pears, lychees, Goji berries, figs, finger limes, therapeutic cannabis and , obviously, of the pomegranate.
Even if there are several Italian companies and realities that have decided to invest in this type of cultivation, often alongside the traditional ones, the biggest problem concerns the strong climatic volatility and the vocation of the territories. Tropical plants prefer sandy soils, a mild climate and the possibility of irrigation. The biggest problem, however, remains the fragmentation of the sector, given that the companies that deal with these crops are small and it is not possible to have a continuous dialogue with large-scale retail trade.
However, the cultivation and production of avocados and mangoes can never replace the cultivation of olive trees in Puglia, but they can offer an opportunity to help all farmers overcome the olive growing crisis while waiting to return to past productivity levels.
Almost forty years ago, the nurseryman from the Promised Land Uzi Cairo has arrived in Cupertino, in the province of Lecce, homeland of his father Antonio Cairo. Remaining fascinated by the beauty of the area and the mild climate, he decided to move to Salento and create the Cairo & Doutcher farm, "contaminating" Italian agriculture with crops widely spread in Israel. Thanks to hard work, research and experimentation, in 96 the company succeeded in conquering the Italian market thanks to the production of Gysophila, known as "mist", with the Million Stars variety. Many efforts have been concentrated on the production of pomegranates, allies of health and well-being, giving life to a new company reality: the Agricultural Society Cairo Doutcher Melograno srl which holds international patents for the growth and marketing of some varieties that are distinguished by fruit size, productivity and organoleptic characteristics.
Then about eight years ago Xylella arrived in Italy, a bacterium that spreads inside the conductor apparatus of the raw sap of plants, causing their death. Despite the damage of one million euros, the Cairo nursery managed to transform a tragedy into a great business opportunity, converting its olive groves into tropical fruit plantations. A choice that has proved successful.
The catalog is rich and varied, the leading products are two types of pomegranate with a very long shelf life: the Wonderful One and Viola, the former is harvested between October and November and lasts until March, the latter is harvested between November and early December and lasts until January. Wonderful is distinguished by its bright red colour, full flavor and high concentration of polyphenols and antioxidants. The other varieties of pomegranate present in the company are: Emek e How, sweet and with low acidity e Shani with a very balanced taste.
While the Mango varieties produced are typical Israeli Maya with a special aroma and a bright yellow color and a soft, sweet and juicy pulp. tommy atkins with a purplish color which, together with the Keitt, is the most widespread variant worldwide. The latter can exceed a kilo, has a green skin with a slight redness, a sweet and pungent pulp devoid of fiber. The Kent has a rich and sweet taste, usually has a green-yellow color with red tones when ripe and finally there is Heidi with a red and large skin.
There are also five avocado varieties grown and produced by the company: ettinger it has a thin, bright green skin and sweet, tasty flesh. The Pinkerton instead it has a medium thick dark green skin and yellow pulp. Hate it is the most requested variety on the market and for this reason the most cultivated, with a sweet and rich taste, it has a black, wrinkled skin and a light yellow pulp without fibre. Another avocado with black skin is the variety BL which ripens from mid-February to April. Then, there is Reed, the avocado variety that ripens when no other variety is on the market (April-May), has a slightly thick dark green skin, the pulp lacks fiber and has a good productive attitude.
Pomegranate cultivation
The experience in the cultivation of pomegranate has allowed the company to structure a safe and reliable method to ensure quantity and quality. The method is based on the following points: pre-plant agronomic study, production of high quality standard plants, complete plant design, supply of materials, technical assistance, research with international bodies and the possibility of joining the Cooperative.
As regards the construction and management of the systems, knowledge of the location of the land is required (climate, soil, chemical analyzes of the earth and water), processes for planting the plant (arrangement of the land, fertigation system , drawing up a black-white mulching sheet (with a ten-year guarantee), planting out the plants and, finally, installing the support structure.Once the system has been set up, the plants are managed for the first two years to strengthen the branches and trunk, in the following years the focus was on production.
What distinguishes the Cairo company is the importance of uniting seeds e technological innovation, keep up with the times, focus on training, research new cultivation techniques without forgetting one's origins. In this regard, the company has one of the most technologically advanced rooting systems in the country, one of the most advanced nursery facilities in the world in which plants reproduced by cuttings can grow in a controlled and constantly monitored environment.
It starts from Gene Bank, where the mother plants of the different varieties are cared for and from which the reproduction operation by cuttings begins which are then carefully selected, cataloged and stored in sterilized refrigerated structures. Subsequently they are rooted and kept in the plant for about three months, constantly checking certain parameters including temperature, humidity and nutrients. Slowly they begin to produce seedlings which are transferred to the greenhouse, where they can continue their growth in pots until they are planted in the field. During their stay in the greenhouse, the plants are kept at a controlled temperature thanks to the forced ventilation systems. Drip fertigation with drip fins ensures that each individual plant receives the right amounts of water and fertiliser.
mango and avocado, unlike ornamental plants and pomegranates, they have a production process that starts from the seed and not from the cuttings.
Tropical fruits: beneficial properties
Avocado is rich in good fats, fiber, vitamins (A,D,E,K,B) e mineral salts: iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. It reduces bad cholesterol levels, inflammation, the risk of cancer and promotes intestinal transit. Unlike the fruits we usually eat, avocado does not contain many carbohydrates but monounsaturated fats and for this reason it must be introduced regularly in our diet without exaggerating.
Mango boasts diuretic and laxative properties, particularly useful in case of constipation and water retention. Rich in vitamins (A,B,C,D,E) and mineral salts, including calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium and potassium, mango is low in calories and therefore highly appreciated by those who want to keep fit. However, it contains a high amount of sugar which makes it unsuitable for diabetics.
