Extensive farming, as the definition suggests, refers to large estates where the minimum possible number of resources—human, technical, and chemical—are used because the economic return is achieved through the sheer size of the cultivated land. This is on a global level. Here, there is a bit of potential confusion, as commonly, when we hear the term “extensive agriculture,” most of us think of cultivation that meticulously preserves and cares for the land, associated with small, passionate producers who protect their territory and products.
Intensive farming is the exact opposite of both versions, involving the maximum possible exploitation of the land and its potential achieved at any cost through the use of chemicals and fertilizers in the highest possible doses, sometimes unfortunately exceeding them. The result is barren land and standardized products.
The best fruits and products result from the conjunction of many productive factors. The specific quality of the land in which they grow, the microclimate, pollution, and chemical agents, the varieties that can be local or far from their place of origin—all these factors contribute to the formation and development of raw materials.
Healthy and fertile land exists when proper resting periods are respected, crop rotations are implemented, ensuring the land receives a balanced supply of nutrients. As we know, some plants are avid for certain minerals and release others; variation means maintaining balance, which translates into aromas and flavors for the cultivated fruits.
For the gelato and products we offer, we always seek high-quality productions that consider biodiversity and the specificity of territories, crops, and local cultures. We look for products locally, and for those from afar that we cannot do without, we pay attention not only to production but also to distances and the journey they must undertake.
