"We will have the first transplantation of industrial tomatoes in a month, which we estimate will be 20 to 30 percent less than the previous campaign. This is a result of the drought, which has affected all fruit and vegetable production. This is a serious problem that politicians should be paying attention to since there have been no plans or solutions for more than twenty years," says Domenico Demaio, owner of the Rosso Gargano brand.
"The water crisis is reaching alarming levels in the Capitanata area of Apulia. Despite some rainfall, it is certainly not enough to fill the dams and reservoirs, nor to guarantee an adequate availability of water to secure summer crops," he says.
"It is worth mentioning that on August 10, 2024, the Land Reclamation Consortium failed to supply water, causing significant crop damage. This led some tomato growers to abandon parts of their fields due to the lack of water. What are the solutions? A 180 million euro project between the regions of Apulia and Molise has been pending for more than 20 years. If it had not been halted, this project would have connected the Occhito and Liscione dams. The project is halfway through and Apulia's agriculture is in danger of collapse."
Rosso Gargano was founded in 2008 and has grown in importance in recent years, with exports now accounting for more than 50% of the company's turnover. The brand is present in 67 countries around the world especially in Japan with high-quality products that originate from Italian lands. In fact, the brand embraces two souls, that of the agricultural and that of the industrial, and it is precisely this that distinguishes the company's commercial profile: quality, guarantee of a short supply chain, and high performance in the kitchen.
"With regard to the commercial aspect, sales are going well. We don't have any stock, except for the 3kg food service format, but that's only because we planned to produce larger quantities. The retail formats are doing well and the price is going up, with an increase of about EUR 0.10 cents compared to last semester's prices, due to the shortage of product. Therefore, we will not reach June with the current supply. Consumption is fair, except in Germany where we are seeing a drop in orders," he explains.
"We have strengthened national distribution, laying the groundwork for expansion into foreign markets, focusing on the retail sector. We are also promoting our Passata di Puglia, offered in a 400-gram jar and made with tomatoes grown in our Apulian fields. We are convinced that the market rewards those who invest in the supply chain and local territories, and indeed the results have proven us right: we have managed to enter the market in northern Italy, in eight large-retail distribution channels."
RossoGargano's reference markets are concentrated in the large-scale organized distribution, restaurant, and catering sectors throughout Europe, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia. With a growing turnover, the company has invested heavily in communication and product promotion over the years and has recently succeeded in conquering new markets where the brand continues to grow, particularly in the retail and catering sectors in Germany, France, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. The launch of the first Rosso Gargano glass jar has been enthusiastically received in these markets."
For more information: 
Giuseppe Stasi
RossoGargano
Loc. Incoronata (FG) Italy
71122 Foggia - Italy
+39 0881 680166
+39 389 6832206
giuseppe.stasi@rossogargano.com
www.rossogargano.com