Italy: Young team promotes organic, high-quality oranges

Contadini per Passione was born from the idea that good agricultural practices can and must be employed; ones that respect both the environment and consumers. The project gathers a group of people, passionate about land, who want to promote what is excellent in their area. The project is the combination of three ways of doing agriculture, stemming from three different personal experiences.

Marco Barbera

Contadini per Passione is a team of three brothers looking in the same direction. They are fully dedicated to orange cultivation using eco-compatible and eco-sustainable methods, as they are convinced land must be used and celebrated, never taken advantage of.

Marco, Kiko and Paolo Barbera

Paolo was born in 1981 and is the oldest brother. He has a more traditional approach, but he is also the founder of the project. Kiko is the youngest, he was born in 1985 and is in charge with the management of the "virtual" grove. Marco was born in 1983 and has a more pragmatic approach.

Paolo Barbera explains that "Contadini per Passione covers around 9 hectares and is made up of an orange and an olive grove. Our idea is based on a 'short chain' concept, so our strengths are in direct sales. We are located in Ribera, south-west of Agrigento, and we cultivate a very old orange grove using organic techniques. We produce the Washington Navel and seedless Vaniglia varieties."

"We strongly believe in high-quality agriculture and in the promotion of an excellent product. This is why we treasure the traditions connected to our territory, we want to be proud of being farmers. For a long time, farmers were treated as if the only thing they needed for their job was muscle and no brain. We want to promote our vision that farmers are educated and emancipated entrepreneurs."

The activities
"Out turnover increased by at least 50% in the past season. We are happy we managed to widen our market and become available in almost all the regions in central and northern Italy. We are also considering new markets abroad."

"We prefer direct sales, as we want our relationships with consumers to be based on trust, without intermediaries. We try to meet all their needs and work with purchasing groups or ship our produce via courier."

"Harvesting starts from mid-November and ends in early April."

Challenges and projects
"We want to keep meeting the needs of increasingly careful consumers, who are more and more aware of the traceability and health of the products purchased. We believe producers have a real social responsibility, therefore their synergy with all the protagonists of the chain is very important. This is why we are also working with schools and families to improve their awareness."

Contacts:
Contadini per Passione Società Agricola Semplice
Via Parlapiano, 22
92016 – Ribera (AG)
Paolo Barbera - cell. 327 5848794
Email: info@contadiniperpassione.it
Web: www.contadiniperpassione.it
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/contadiniperpassione.it