Giovanni, small fruit grower
Pastorello Giovanni Farm, Alpo di Villafranca (Verona, Italy)
A farm specialising in the production of small fruits, particularly strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and currants, supplied to growers’ cooperatives and intended for domestic and international markets.
In February 2005, the farm began using BioAksxter® with the aim of improving crop quality and yields. The main objectives included reducing rejection rates and addressing problems resulting from intensive soil exploitation, including strawberry plant collapse during harvesting and the development of bacterial cankers in blackberries, which were causing substantial yield losses.
Close-up of a blackberry plant showing poor vegetative activity and affected by bacterial cankers.
Strawberry crop: plant collapse during the harvesting period.
In 2005, during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®, improved vegetative balance was observed. In particular, strawberry plants showed compact growth. Rejection rates caused by fruit deformation and small fruit size were reduced, and the crops were characterised by high uniformity.
April 2005. Strawberry crop during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®, characterised by compact vegetative growth and high productivity.
April 2005. Strawberries during the first year of treatment with BioAksxter®, showing high fruit uniformity.
In the following years, a substantial increase in yields was achieved across all crops, fertiliser applications were reduced, and soil sterilisation in strawberry fields was no longer necessary. In the year when the same raspberry crop was tipped and brought into production three times, fruit firmness remained high even during the summer months. Currant crops were characterised by large fruit size and intense colour.
May 2009. Raspberry crop treated with BioAksxter®.
Raspberries grown with BioAksxter®, harvested during periods of high temperatures.
Young currant crop treated with BioAksxter®.
Currants grown with BioAksxter®, characterised by large fruit size and intense colour.
The incidence of bacterial cankers in blackberries was halved, vegetative vigour and productivity were restored, and yields exceeded 300 quintals per hectare.
June 2007. Blackberry crop in excellent vegetative and productive balance, treated with BioAksxter®.
June 2008. Highly productive blackberry crop, treated with BioAksxter®.
In strawberry production, no plant collapse occurred, rejection rates were reduced further and, even in early varieties, yields reached 315 quintals per hectare.
May 2010. Strawberry crop at the end of harvesting, with no collapsed plants, treated with BioAksxter®.
May 2009. Strawberry crop treated with BioAksxter®, characterised by high productivity.
Fruit colour and storage life improved further and, in addition, analyses carried out at delivery confirmed the absence of residues.
May 2009. High-quality strawberries grown with BioAksxter®.
In March 2011, the farm emphasised its satisfaction with BioAksxter®, both for the possibility of repeating crops on the same land without having to deal with soil fatigue and for the consistency of the results over time.
