"Mafia alive-and-well in Sicily"

The Sicilian cooperative, InCampagna, is sometimes fighting a losing battle. The social problems on this island in the Mediterranean sea, which is dominated by the Italian mafia, have left their mark. The continuous stream of refugees, high unemployment rates and the commonplace workplace exploitation has not left founder, Andrea Valenziani, completely unscathed. It has, however, convinced him that Italian business-owners must put their shoulders to the wheel and work together to tackle this problem.

Last season, InCampagna started operating in the Netherlands, under the leadership of ex-Warmonderhoffer Jan-Thijs van Heck. Cooperative InCampagna, a cooperative of organic farmers in Sicily, supplies various kinds of Mediterranean products, including organic citrus, avocados, kiwis and prickly pears. They also have different kinds of vegetables. The cooperative, which has a modern, flat management structure, recently acquired its own building. Citrus is sorted there, and orders are carefully packaged before being sent to several European countries. From this season onwards, sales are more focused on the larger buyers, such as (fresh) wholesalers.

Jan-Thijs emphasises that InCampagna is more than just a growers network that supplies produce. "Mutual, local support is what sets up apart. In order to help immigrants and refugees integrate, the cooperative offers them to training opportunities to get started with cultivation. Andrea is working hard to get a local forest that has all but disappeared, replanted. This was caused by bad landscape management and forest fires. It must be done in order to prevent soil erosion and promote biodiversity", says Jan-Thijs.

InCampagna has also joined an anti-mafia organisation. "Do not be fooled; the Sicilian mafia is alive-and-well. There is also hustling going on in the organic sector. This just strengthens our belief in honesty and transparency. Growers are willing to share their stories. Not just to get customers more connected with where the product originates. It is also crucial to create a better understanding of exactly how the supply line works." He says friendly growers, who are not part of the network, have regularly witnessed transgressions. It is, however, difficult to go against the larger (organic) orange companies without being thwarted by them. "We are, therefore, also in talks with investigative journalists. We want to put an end to this."

"This might be the Italian mentality: on the surface, everything seems fine, when in fact, they are far from it." This is why Jan-Thijs finds the work Andreas is doing to be progressive, innovative and inspiring. "He has a talent for organising - the way he tightly, clearly and honestly organises things is unprecedented. At least by Sicilian standards. When it comes to his mentality, he is German", says Jan-Thijs, jokingly. "This is evident in InCampagna, as a whole. He built this organisation from the ground, up."

In the Netherlands, InCampagna, supplies, among others, BioRomeo, a regular customer. According to Jan-Thijs, many of their customers are impressed by the high quality of the products. "Of course, we cannot judge our own product, but from the numerous reactions, it is obvious that the fruit has a good, intense taste. This is because we only harvest the products shortly before they are transported. They are also delivered quickly, which ensures a good quality product."

"As a pioneer in organic farming in the region, the cooperative is doing everything in its power to prevent intensive cultivation from taking over. It is important to develop traditions by using modern methods", concludes Jan-Thijs. "In this way, we not only preserve what is good, but we also improve the quality of our products, the local environment and the world. Everyone reaps the benefits."

For more information:
Jan-Thijs van Heck
InCampagna NL
48 Tadamasingel
7201 EN Zutphen
T: +31 (0)6-21497773