Ortogel confirms the difficulties that affected the 2019/20 citrus fruit campaign caused by the weather and market dynamics and reports a 520% drop in volumes.
"Unfortunately, the segment is also affected by the fact that Sicilian blood oranges are quoted at the same price of the produce from South Africa, Brazil and Argentina," explains Ortogel technician Salvatore Imbesi.
In the photos: details of processing systems at Ortogel Spa.
Ortogel is a company that has always managed to promote its production and supply final consumers with high-quality products. Its high-tech processing plants are constantly up to date so as to improve the quality of Sicilian products and reach Italian and foreign markets.
"In order to honor the commitments made with clients, producers sell citrus fruit at a price lower than the cost needed to grow it. What is more, the industry purchases fruit only at a low price because of the international quotations of processed products considerably below production costs. The paradox is that everybody demands certified blood oranges at a price that is unsustainable for producers."
"Quotations are lower and lower even in years such as this one, where volumes are half what they were during the previous season. Nonetheless, international players demand that the price of processed products stays the same."
"Basically demand/supply and market balance rules no longer apply. This is due to the lack of an internal logic that mostly hits the weakest link in the chain, i.e. companies commercializing citrus fruit and supplying produce to processing companies followed by all other actors part of the chain."
Sole administrator Vincenzo Rizzo reported that "Salvatore Imbesi has been fighting for years for a certified clear sector. This can be done by monitoring and certifying product volumes and establishing minimum prices in line with production costs and effective quantities."
Ortogel is investing in R&D to make the most of waste products to the benefit of environmental sustainability: what is considered as waste by one sector, can in fact add value to another.
Prickly pears, for example, are among the symbols of Sicily and multi-purpose plants can play a significant role in an increasingly demanding market.
"We are currently working on two projects for the production of juices, purées and semi-processed products with prickly pears, peaches, nectarines and apricots grown in the Catania province. In addition, we are testing a beauty range made with the 'juice' obtained by pressing cladodes (the juicy flat branches of prickly pears)."
Contacts:
Ortogel Spa
C.da Balchino Zona Industriale
95039 Caltagirone (CT) (Italy)
Tel.: +39 0933 1902800
Cell.: +39 348 8949166
Email: info@ortogel.com
Website: www.ortogel.com