The agronomist Angelo Migliorisi, 55 years old, has been managing the family citrus grove together with the sisters Gianna and Antonella for 5 years. He said, “We grow oranges in Sicily helped only by nature. We have been successful in this challenge for 5 years”.
From the right: Angelo Migliorisi (agronomist and owner of the Azienda Arance Bio Cava d'Oro) and Alessandro Scrofani (agronomist and expert in the use of effective micro-organisms)
The citrus grove located in Acate
The agronomist claimed, “The situation is now completely different from my dad or granddad old times. What that market did not accept back then, it is now one of its strengths. The clearest example is the red-orange: the majority of the old plant was disbanded to grow blonde oranges which eventually have become less valuable. Fortunately, we preserved a little land for the growing of the Tarocco variety which allows us differentiating our offer”:
The 'organic transformation'
The entrepreneur continues, “Another radical change is represented by the different management of the fertilization and the phytosanitary treatments. We opted for the organic method – we certified our company with regard to that, also. Additionally, we use the so-called effective micro-organisms in order to keep the balance of the soil thus improving our products”.
The Arance Bio Cava d’Oro is located in Acate, and it occupies 5 hectares. The company’s fields are perfectly suited to grow citrus fruit for two main reasons: precocity – thanks to the exposition to the sun – and fertility – as they are close to the Dirillo river. Its sporadic floods carry those nutrients that characterize the extreme generosity of the land.
In recent years, the company introduced a late blonde orange variety (Lana Late) which ripens from March to June/July. Also, the company produces the early orange Navelina, which ripens in the first days of November. Additionally, the common orange Tarocco, which ripens from February to April.
Stock pictures provided by the company: the citrus grove during the harvesting period.
The full production potential will be achieved in a few years due to the radical transformation of the new varietal implant and the re-cultivation of old varieties. However, the production is expected to be of 30 tons of Lane Late, 45 tons of Navelina and 30 tons of Tarocco. We sell our products in wholesale markets. Recently, we opened an e-commerce channel on a shared platform which takes already 30% of the production.
Info:
Arance Bio Cava d'Oro
Via Giuseppine, 24
97100 Ragusa - Italy
Tel: +39 3383810756
Email: ante.migliorisi@alice.it