The new facility inaugurated on 7th April 2019 by Cooperativa Sant'Orsola to celebrate its 40th anniversary is called "Villaggio dei Piccoli Frutti" (Soft Fruit Village) and is located in Pergine Valsugana near the road connecting Trentino to Veneto.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by cooperative president Silvio Bertoldi, Pergine Valsugana mayor Roberto Oss Emer, Provincia Autonoma di Trento president Maurizio Fugatti and manager Fabio Rizzoli, creator of "Villaggio dei Piccoli Frutti". Marina Mattarei, president of Federazione Trentina della Cooperazione and the mayors of nearby towns also took part.
The new facility covers 16 hectares and construction works started on 24th July 2017.
It features wide covered and outside spaces with a logistic structure that can guarantee the maximum processing efficiency and multiply the storage and processing capacity and is equipped with the most modern technologies boasting 20 packaging lines and state-of-the-art machinery including a unique blueberry grading system. The produce is stored in 157 refrigerated units below ground level.
The over 350 kWp photovoltaic plant guarantees a production of around 400,000 kWh/year. In addition, specific materials have been used for covers with the purpose of saving energy.
The new facility is just the first step for the realization of an entire Soft Fruit Village, a €42 million investment on 16 hectares, the most important in Europe and enabling Sant'Orsola to confirm its leadership in Italy and to be the district of reference for soft fruit abroad as well.
Partners visited the plant after taking part in the annual meeting in the new Auditorium. 2018 was a very positive year, with a turnover of over €802,000 compared to the €623,000 of 2017. The production value rose to €62,697,000 compared to the €57,044,000 of the previous year. This meant €26,000,000 were distributed among the partners. All this despite the bad weather during a few months.
The positive trend continues - it started in 2013 when the entire organization of the company was overhauled with the appointment of new human resources led by director Matteo Bortolini. The various business plans have peaked in the great investment in the new facility and in "Villaggio dei Piccoli Frutti". The consumption trend for these products is constantly increasing, so production is also increasing in new areas of the world.
For further information: info@santorsola.com / www.santorsola.com