Forcing and whitening are traditional agronomic techniques used to improve the quality, taste, and texture of certain chicory varieties. This process involves temporarily depriving the plants of light and encouraging regrowth under controlled conditions, inducing the formation of more tender, crisp leaves with a less bitter flavor. What are forcing and whitening During natural growth, chicory develops greener, more fibrous leaves, often characterized by a pronounced bitterness. Through forcing, field growth is interrupted and new vegetative growth is stimulated in a protected environment. Whitening, on the other hand, occurs by reducing light exposure, limiting chlorophyll production and making the leaves...
The Smarties.bio radicchio range expands with four new varieties that represent the tangible result of genetic improvement and the company’s ongoing research activities. These new products stem from the Smarties.bio vision: selecting distinctive types that perform well in the field and meet the needs of the modern supply chain, without compromising on organoleptic quality and territorial identity.The new introductions: ALPONE Cicoria Rossa di Verona GAETANO Cicoria Catalogna Puntarelle di Gaeta YLENIA Sugar Loaf Chicory CASTEO Cicoria Variegata di Castelfranco They enrich the offering with versatile solutions designed for professional growers and quality-conscious consumers. ALPONE Cicoria Rossa di VeronaA very...
Recommended products for June: focus on the Smarties.bio chicory and radicchio range June is a strategic month for planning autumn and winter crops. Sowing and transplanting carried out during this period directly determine the quality of production in the following months, especially for key crops such as radicchio. For this reason, the Smarties.bio Radicchio range offers carefully selected solutions to ensure uniformity, yield, and market quality.In particular, during the month of June the focus is on three key types: Chioggia, Verona and Variegated, varieties that allow for complete and flexible production planning. Cicoria di Chioggia: reliability and uniformityThe Smarties.bio Chioggia Radicchio...
Spring 2026 represented a special moment of sharing and exchange for Smarties.bio. With three Open Days organized at our headquarters and showcase fields in Veneto, we welcomed students, professional growers, and enthusiasts from the sector to experience firsthand our work, our vision, and our daily commitment to genetic improvement and seed production. Three different days, united by the same goal: to let people live the Smarties.bio experience. April 17: education and future with the Agricultural Institute "IIS Alberto Parolini" The first event on April 17 was dedicated to educating the new generations. We had the pleasure of hosting the third...
