Research, field trials, and full supply-chain involvement: this is the path Cora Seeds highlights for the growth of the baby leaf segment destined for the fresh-cut industry. This strategy also includes the promotion of the Sele Valley (Piana del Sele), a territory already recognised as one of Europe’s leading hubs for this category.
This approach was the core theme of the Open Days on baby arugula and baby lettuce held by the seed company on 11–12 November at the Azienda Altamura in Pontecagnano Faiano (SA).
The Open Days offered a unique opportunity to analyse the key challenges of the baby leaf sector together with growers. This segment requires varieties with high-quality seed, strong resistance, a long shelf life, and excellent post-harvest performance. Cora Seeds’ research programmes move precisely in this direction, taking into account both growers’ production needs and those of processors and packers, following an integrated supply-chain perspective.
Thanks to this approach, high-yielding baby arugula varieties with excellent shelf life have been developed, such as Karina F1 and Kadjar F1, along with well-established baby lettuce cultivars including Maverick and Rossettina, which combine an extended shelf life with a long harvest window. New experimental cultivars—currently under testing and showing tolerance to Bremia and Fusarium—were also presented during the Open Days.
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The choice of location was no coincidence. Thanks to its position between the Apennines and the Gulf of Salerno, and to the fertility of its soils, the Sele Valley is a strategic area for production in spring, autumn, and winter, as well as a European benchmark for the fresh-cut sector. Technological innovations and investments made in recent years have transformed this region into a centre of excellence.
“Investing in the fresh-cut sector represents a major commitment for Cora Seeds, with the goal of meeting market needs five or six years from now,” said Maurizio Bacchi, CEO of Cora Seeds. “Our aim is to offer competitive, versatile, and reliable genetics, while also promoting research and collaboration by building bridges between those who develop the varieties and those who bring them to the market. The Sele Valley is an ideal territory for the growth and enhancement of the sector.”
The event also featured the participation of Vito Busillo, president of the Piana del Sele IGP Arugula Consortium, and was supported by Agricola Italiana, a leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery for seeding.
