The Faro family has finally managed to fulfill its dream of creating a botanical park that represents the distinctive elements of Sicilian citrus fruit production.
Michele Faro
Within Radicepura, the Faro family showcases its experience when it comes to international nursery gardening over 5 hectares hosting 3000 plant species, a seed bank and facilities dedicated to educational and cultural activities.
The park aims at being a point of reference for producers, researchers, landscape gardeners, operators and enthusiasts. It is divided into different sections for botanical educational activities, itineraries, studies on citrus production and Mediterranean plants.
"We started setting up Radicepura a few years ago. Our idea was to share what has been our work for the past 50 years, i.e. collecting citrus fruit plants and much more," explains Michele Faro.
Varietal innovation
"Citrus fruit represents the core of our activity, starting with varietal innovation. But citrus fruit is also the core business of our geographical area, and that is why it was important to us to promote its propagation through considerable investments in the search for new rootstocks."
"In addition to Citrange Carrizo, which was the one more naturally used to tackle the CTV problem, rootstocks C35 and Forner have also been performing well. We are currently working with CREA and the University of Catania to perfect the production of rootstock C22, which could replace the ones mentioned above. We are also working on new varieties of pigmented oranges."
In light of the diseases that have been affecting Sicily over the past few years, varietal innovation of fruits must go hand in hand with the varietal innovation of rootstocks. Radicepura's efforts are oriented towards Sicilian production but could also open up to other horizons.
"We are firm believers in Sicilian production but we also consider exports so, why not? In the future, our material could even go abroad. In any case, we believe in this territory and would like to continue doing what we are doing here in Sicily."
Radicepura Horticultural Park
Botanica S.r.l.
Strada 17, N. 19
Fraz. di S. Leonardello – Giarre (CT)
Tel. +39 095964154
Email: info@radicepura.it