"We have been dealing with exotic and tropical fruit for 30 years and we consider it an exchange of culture, flavour and atmosphere from the opposite side of the world," explained Luca Garletti from McGarlet during the Fruit Tropical Congress at Macfrut 2018.
"When we started importing avocados a few years ago, they were considered a sort of green pear and nobody knew how to eat them. Now the market has grown and demands a product that is ripe and nice to eat. While it is true that these products are still relatively unknown, there is a market for them."
According to Garletti, climate change is leading to a change in dynamics and opening new opportunities. "If we think about the volumes produced by Spain, we can see how Sicily, which is at the same latitude, could potentially do the same thus solving its social and employment problems. That's why we started to develop a new project."
McGarlet's project involves an investment to reach 100 hectares of crops in 3 years, growing one million kg of produce (mainly mangoes, avocados, limes and passion fruit). Production will be supervised by skilled agronomists.
Garlatti explained how the Caronia area has practically already become a tropical area. "We can now grow fruit it wasn't possible to cultivate before. This can make a real difference, as making it available on the market right after it's been harvested is much better. Sicily gives us the chance to grow mangoes and commercialise them right after they're harvested. As for avocados, just think that they can be harvested when the fat mass reaches 24-29, while we can harvest them at 32-34! What is more, we can have mangoes available between October and December, when there's no produce coming in from overseas."
"Italian" exotic fruit by McGarlet
"Our produce can be available on the market in only 48 hours. Of course we must choose the right varieties, but we have decades of experience in this field. We are confident our project will be successful and meet consumer demands."