Stefano Restuccia, OP Red Co.P. marketing manager, told FreshPlaza, “From the 14th of October 2018, we started the Limone Primofiore 2kR marketing season. The product has a uniform size given by the early variety and the summer climate - which was particularly suited for citrus fruit farming. Additionally, the quality, the neatness of the peel and the organoleptic properties are excellent.
Obviously, the lemon will pass through a cycle of mild degreening and controlled ripening, to ensure that the peel reaches the colour suitable for sale”.
The quantity of available product is satisfying: the company aims at playing a key role within the Italian Gdo, whereas the marketing for the foreign Gdo will start around the 5th of November.
“Why November? The reason lies in the fact that it is difficult to compete with the Spanish lemons: on one hand, Spain can rely on big quantities with consistent size, on the other hand, Spanish lemons have a completely yellow peel – which is obtained through a prolonged degreening. However, this process does not meet consumers’ expectations, who would always prefer more natural products”.
With regard to that, the OP Red CoP improved its packaging plant in order to obtain untreated citrus fruit on the surface.
Stefano highlighted, “Through these works, we will be more competitive thanks to our better supply reliability and the improvement of the qualitative level. We will be more efficient in every stage of the working process. All our varieties will have labels saying, ‘edible peel’”.
With regard to the organic productions, the company is expecting to start the Limone Primofiore Bio season on the second half of October. Starting from the end of the month, the marketing of the organic oranges Navel will start, as well. The primary objective for the current season is to improve our organic product marketing network, both on the national and international sides.
“We are convinced that the focus is gradually shifting to guaranteed organic products. This market segment is growing year after year – alongside with the professionalism coming from organic farming.
The company will soon start a production process that will grant them a wider range of organic certifications with Demeter biodynamic standards.
The entrepreneur concluded, “The Red Oranges marketing season is expected to be excellent. This because the Tarocco variety has a better quality compared to last year. The size is bigger on average, also. The only drawback is the limited volumes, but we all know why: we are in the middle of a process of change that has led to the eradication of old bitter orange plant rootstocks, whereas the growth of new plants is still underway, thus gradually entering production”.
Info:
O.P. Red Co.P
Via Palermo 251/D
95046 – Palagonia (CT) Italy
Tel.: (+39) 095 7945044
Email: comm@redcop.it
Web: www.redcop.it