"Trends in summer nut consumption show a strong growth curve
compared to the last five years. Italians' habits have changed from the American breakfast model with eggs and bacon to Mediterranean dietary choices, with milk or yoghurt enriched with seeds, Goji berries, oats and a mix of nuts and dried fruits. We no longer choose sweets and biscuits for snacks, but energy-rich unsaturated fatty acid refills. However, nuts have become essential for beach snacks as well. Roasted or spicy peanuts as well as a snack made from chilli peppers or rice and corn pancakes are the perfect companion to aperitivo drinks," said Giuseppe Mocerino, owner of the company of the same name, which has farms in the Campania region and a food-processing site in the Lazio region.
Mocerino Frutta Secca is a family-run business, founded by Carmine Mocerino in the 1950s in Somma Vesuviana (NA), to enhance the value of products obtained from its own land, particularly dried fruit. Now in its third generation of entrepreneurs with Salvatore Mocerino and his sons Antonio and Giuseppe, the company is one of the main players in the dried fruit sector both in Italy and abroad.
The Mocerino Frutta secca brand offers a wide range of products, including walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, but also a variety of day-to-day wellness products, such as ginger and dehydrated fruit, as well as berry mixes, like goji, blueberries and many others.
"The support of doctors and nutrition professionals in disseminating new and fairer information on dried fruit has been crucial in finally overturning the old beliefs that banned dried fruit from summer meals because of its high calorie content. As a result, in addition to its proven health benefits, it is now part of the food diet. The new outlook has also been embraced by fitness enthusiasts, who have not given up on dried and dried fruit snacks this year, even under the beach umbrella.
One of the rules of a healthy diet is to prefer seasonal foods. This also applies to dried and dehydrated fruit, so - by convention and culinary culture - the demand for prunes, apricots and dates decreases with the heat, while the demand for dehydrated fruit grows, especially coconut in flakes and slices, mango, papaya and ginger, also if produced organically.
"In the summer months, we see an increase in imports of coconuts, mangoes, papayas and ginger, particularly from Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and South America, where the crops are cultivated by local indigenous populations at full capacity, but still protected from exploitation thanks to specific ethical certifications that Mocerino strongly supports. Demand comes mainly from the confectionery industry, which at this time of year focuses mainly on the production of semi-frozen desserts and ice creams, which mainly requires the supply of hazelnuts, almonds and pistachios in grains of different sizes, depending on the food preparation. The catering sector, on the other hand, prefers shelled nuts for summer dishes, in particular peeled sliced almonds to decorate salmon and shelled pistachios to complete first courses. In short, dried fruit doesn't go on holiday, it comes on holiday with us," pointed out Giuseppe Mocerino.
"With regard to promotional activities, the brand will be attending various trade fairs. In particular, Bellavita Expo in London, aimed at promoting Italian food; Sial in Paris, to discover the latest news and trends in the international food sector; and Gustus Napoli in November in our city, Naples, at the Mostra d'Oltremare, where we hope to offer exposure to our brands and seek collaboration with other brands. It's a unique networking opportunity to promote our products and strengthen our network of customers and suppliers.
For more information:
Mocerino Frutta Secca Srl
Via Pizzone, 5
80049 Somma Vesuviana (NA) - Italy
+39 06 91629042
Email: info@abicci.it
Web: www.frutta-secca.it