"We are focusing on continuity, in terms of product availability, in order to satisfy an increasing demand from national and international markets that assiduously ask for high quality Italian lemons". So stated Vincenza La Torre, manager of "Il Noto" who named her company after the baroque city where it is located, in the province of Syracuse, in south-eastern Sicily, to emphasize a production of great value .
The "Il Noto" farm deals with the production of organic lemons and is certified by Bioagricert. The crops are spread over 13 hectares, "using rigorous ad hoc fertilization techniques, which respect the natural cycles of fruit production".
"In 2019, I took over the family business - says La Torre - with the aim of enhancing the excellence of a niche product such as the Siracusan femminello, a cultivar well known on the international scene. The idea now is to expand production in order to increase exports. In fact, we immediately noticed that our commercial channels could and, above all, wanted to absorb more quantities of our lemon".
"The richness in terms of juice - continues the manager - with an incidence of over 30% in relation to the weight and the essential oils of the peel are the factors that, together with the organic certification, have made it possible to export our lemons first to France and then to Germany. In addition, we supply Italian customers interested in the quality of the product, for the production of gourmet jams and luxury catering".
Production calendar
"We harvest primofiore - explains La Torre - from October to April; bianchetto and maiolino from April to July; and the renowned verdello, from July to September. The latter product has aroused a lot of commercial interest, both for the period in which it is harvested, and for its organoleptic qualities enclosed in a completely green fruit, which satisfies the most careful and demanding consumers. Among our most important customers we include those working in haute patisserie and, as already mentioned, in haute cuisine. In this way, that is by turning to the high profile consumer, we help to dispel the myth that lemon is only yellow".
At the moment, the annual production is 70 tons. "But - says the expert - we are counting on doubling our production in the shortest possible time, that is, in the necessary material time, without losing sight of the very high quality of the product which remains our number one priority. In fact, we set ourselves the goal of reaching non-European markets: the UAE and Kuwait first of all. Furthermore, as soon as possible, we would like to export our precious lemons to the People's Republic of China as well".
Contacts:
Il Noto - Azienda Agricola Biologica
Tel.: +39 3289229670
Email: ilnotoazienda.agricola@gmail.com
Web: www.ilnoto.com