Recently, the "Sapientia Mundi" foundation awarded the "Speciale Medusa" prize to the Maletto Municipality for the activities carried out to promote local "Perla Rossa dell'Etna" strawberry productions.
The feather in the company's cap are strawberries and wild strawberries, but Malecta also processes fruit from other local crops such as oranges, late tangerines, blackberries, black figs, raspberries and Coscia pears. It implements a strict monitoring and traceability system and is able to identify the specific greenhouse where each batch comes from.
Pippo Grassia with chef Anthony Andaloro
"Jams are produced following traditional recipes but with the support of a state-of-the-art plant. Fruit is sorted and puréed, then concentrated for hours at around 65°C to maintain all nutritional values intact. No added aromas, colourings and preservatives, just sugar, lemon juice and fruit pectin. The colour of the fruit remains lively with an intense aroma."
Why also produce processed products?
"It is important not only because overripe fruit would be lost, but also to provide the chance to enjoy the pruduct for longer. In fact, we cannot produce strawberries between January and April because of the low temperatures."
"It is important not only because overripe fruit would be lost, but also to provide the chance to enjoy the pruduct for longer. In fact, we cannot produce strawberries between January and April because of the low temperatures."
The sales campaing
"Prices remained the same while the demand of processed products has increased. We increased our exports by 40%, especially in Germany."
"Germany is our main market abroad while, in Italy, our products can be found in the centre and in the south, and in Rome in particular, where Le Sicilianedde has the exclusive rights on all our products."
There are four main packaging formats - 210, 250 and 100 grams, "but the 140 gram is the favourite by the German market."
As it is a niche product, sales are direct to gourmet or artisan product shops.
Weather anomalies
"There have been a few problems for black figs because of the abnormal temperatures, which reached 30°C in April."
"After the strawberry season is over, we start processing blood oranges and late tangerines."
According to Grassia, the main challenge in this sector is maintaining high quality standards. All the products are made artisanally and concentrated, in the absence of oxygen, at 65°C, i.e. below average. "Each jar has a 65/70% fruit content."
Contacts:
Azienda agricola Malecta S.r.l.
C.da Roccaro s. n.
95035 Maletto (CT)
Cell: (+39) 348 2818630
Email: info@malecta.it
Web: www.malecta.it