"Climate, soil and environmental conditions make a difference when it comes to doing good or bad agriculture. Of course there are solutions that solve many problems, even those connected to sterility, but it's not true in our case. Our company is located on basaltic soil mixed with alluvial and volcanic soil, which constitutes an extremely interesting combination for citrus fruit cultivation," explains baron Rudolf Freiherr von Freyberg when describing its orange-growing company in Sicily.
Overview of the land
Tarocco sub-variety Cocuzza is particularly appreciated for its pigmentation and unique flavor. Rudolfino is also popular and it's a hybrid clementine obtained crossing red oranges and local tangerine. It's easy to peel and a has distinctive flavor.
Video interview with Baron Rudolf von Freyberg
Five hectares of Rudolfino clementines
"In addition to the Tarocco varieties and sub-varieties, we also have blonde oranges and Nova clementines. The season generally goes from November to May with 2000 tons in total. However, this year, the early produce will become available already in mid-October," explains agronomist Nello Bottino.
Rudolfino clementines
"Azienda agricola San Giorgio only employs organic cultivation methods and holds the ICEA certification. We employ solutions by Itaka Crop Solutions (a certified Soil Association in the UK). We also hold the prestigious Wildlife Estates Labels, which certifies not only the eco-sustainability of the company but also its biodiversity."
Nello Bottino and Salvatore Tuccio (agronomists)
"This company has been part of my family's heritage for 42 generations, i.e. for the past one thousand years. I am the first to live here, taking care of the land directly. Citrus groves were introduced by my family in the 1920s, when Sicilian citrus fruit production was expanding."
"We now have the honor and pleasure of seeing our productions exported all over Europe, especially to Scandinavia and northern Europe. It's our partners that deal with commercialization as, at the moment, we're only focusing on productions. I have started to talk to the main organic niche distributors with the idea of commercializing directly and have already developed an exclusive brand."
Contacts:
San Giorgio
Azienda Agricola Biologica
C.da S. Giorgio
96016 Lentini (SR) - Italia
Tel.: +39 3351097146
Email: info@aziendasangiorgio.it