Supermarkets welcome ready-to-eat apricots

"Only a few varieties can be marketed under the Le Meraviglie brand and then only if they are harvested at the right degree of ripeness. Now is the high time for apricots," said Vincenzo Finelli, managing director of Italy's Orogel Fresco.

"Until 10-15 June, the apricots will be coming in from our growers in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. The Le Meraviglie brand markets fruit that maximizes its taste potential, and at the moment the product from the south of the country falls fully within the parameters we set. In two weeks, we will shift north to Emilia Romagna."

Over the years, the number of apricot varieties has multiplied, sometimes causing confusion. "Once, research was focused on color, whereas nowadays most attention is paid to flavor. Only a few varieties are included in our brand. The growers harvest the fruit with a high degree of ripeness and pack the apricots directly on the plots to avoid further processing in the warehouse. The apricots are placed in the punnets by hand, which is why a higher maturity can be guaranteed compared to standard."

In the warehouse, the punnets are labeled by weight, but no automated sorting takes place, since the growers in the field have already done this according to predefined parameters.

Vincenzo Finelli, director of Orogel Fresco

"The high temperatures of the last few weeks have caused an acceleration in the ripening process, and growers found themselves in difficulties during the harvest as a result. On top of that, there is a lack of labor, so some lots have not even been harvested," explained Finelli.

The distinctive advantage of Le Meraviglie is the common practice of packing the fruit in the orchard, which ensures its quality and shelf life. The Le Meraviglie project pays great attention to the choice of variety. Orogel Fresco is always looking for fruit that tastes like fruit, and for this it has chosen some of the best varieties of apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries, strawberries, pears, apples, kiwis and persimmons. The taste, texture and aroma of Orogel Fresco's fruit are above average, and the fruit reaches the shelf according to a strict calendar, in time with the season.

Orogel Fresco is able to offer quality products at all times through its cooperative structure, with fruit growers in specialized growing areas from northern to southern Italy.