Daniele, fruit and greenhouse vegetable grower

Cappellini Daniele Farm, owned by Cappellini Luigi and Franco – Albaro di Ronco all’Adige (Verona, Italy) 

A farm specialising in the greenhouse and open-field production of high-quality fruit and vegetables for the wholesale fruit and vegetable market, particularly peppers, melons, cabbages, peaches and apples. 

The farm has always been committed to agronomic practices that respect human health and the environment. In May 2007, it began using BioAksxter® in greenhouse pepper cultivation. 

The aim was to improve crop yields and regenerate soil that had been intensively cultivated for many years, as soil fatigue had emerged in recent years, making it increasingly difficult to maintain high yields and healthy crops. 

After four months of cultivation with BioAksxter®, more vigorous vegetative growth, increased fruit glossiness, thicker fruit flesh and a reduction in the percentage of rejected produce were observed. Production in 2007 exceeded the previous year's record harvest, with an average yield of 7.3 kg per plant. 

September 2007. Greenhouse pepper crop after four months of treatment with BioAksxter®. 

September 2007. Greenhouse pepper crop after four months of treatment with BioAksxter®, showing the particularly glossy appearance of the leaves and fruits. 

In 2008, the use of BioAksxter® was extended to the other crops, producing significant results: 

• in melon cultivation, more than 10 fruits per plant were harvested, with yields exceeding 300 quintals per hectare. Quality remained high throughout the production cycle, and no further plant deaths occurred in the area of the crop affected by Verticillium. 
• Cabbage crops showed greater uniformity, with a substantial reduction in bacterial diseases in susceptible varieties. 

April 2008. Melon crop during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®, at the beginning of flowering. 

June 2008. Melon crop during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®, at the beginning of harvesting. 

October 2008. Romanesco broccoli crop during the first year of cultivation with BioAksxter®, characterised by excellent plant health and the absence of bacterial diseases. 

Highly uniform cauliflowers grown with BioAksxter®. 

• In peach and nectarine cultivation, more vigorous vegetative growth and increased yields were achieved, together with improved flavour and storage life. 
• Apple yields were high across all varieties, including those subject to alternate bearing. Fruit colour development and size improved. Although the previous year had been exceptionally productive, the harvest reached 600 quintals per hectare. 

June 2008. Peach tree during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®. 

July 2008. Nectarines grown during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®, characterised by their flavour, sweetness and excellent storage life. 

September 2008. Highly productive Golden Delicious apple crop after one year of treatment with BioAksxter®. 

September 2008. Royal Gala apples after one year of cultivation with BioAksxter®, characterised by intense colouration and uniform fruit size. 

In 2009 and 2010, the results improved further. Difficulties arising from weather conditions were overcome, the proportion of rejected produce decreased and crop uniformity increased: 

• Apple production showed no alternate bearing and, despite conditions highly favourable to apple scab and bitter pit, no damage to the harvest occurred, either in the field or during cold storage. 
• In pepper cultivation, the problem of soil fatigue was resolved. Where crops were repeatedly grown on the same plots, the natural development of predatory insects feeding on thrips was observed. Yields remained consistently above 7 kg per plant, with large, uniformly sized fruits. 

August 2009. Royal Gala apple crop during the second year of cultivation with BioAksxter®, showing no signs of apple scab in a year when disease control proved impossible throughout the surrounding area. 

September 2009. Golden Delicious apple crop during the second year of cultivation with BioAksxter®. Rejection rates due to bitter pit were negligible, both at harvest and after cold storage. 

Pepper crop grown on intensively cultivated soil and treated with BioAksxter®, showing particularly vigorous plant development. 

Peppers treated with BioAksxter®, characterised by large fruit size and high uniformity. 

• The greenhouse melon harvesting period extended over approximately 60 days, with quality remaining consistently high. Powdery mildew, downy mildew and red spider mites were easily kept under control.
• All crops showed improvements in both storage life and sweetness, distinguishing their produce from that of other growers, as also noted by consumers. 
• In all inspections carried out by the competent authorities, the produce was consistently found to be free from residues. 

July 2010. Melon crop during the third year of cultivation with BioAksxter®, approximately 60 days after the beginning of harvesting. 

July 2010. Melon crop during the third year of cultivation with BioAksxter®, approximately 60 days after the beginning of harvesting. 

Peppers grown with BioAksxter®, ready for marketing. The produce was distinguished by its sweet flavour, firmer flesh and absence of residues. 

In summer 2010, the farm decided to further enhance the value of its crops by joining the initiative “Eat Healthy, Ask for Fruit and Vegetables Grown with BioAksxter®”.