"Thanks to the trust of our producers, Bio Hortus has officially become a Producer Organization. A great achievement that has enabled us to go from 70 to 1400 hectares, including our own and external productions," president Antonio Morreale reports as he gives the news.
"We are proud of having achieved this objective, as the procedure has not always been easy. We have grown not so much in size, but by improving our high standards. It is a recognition of the many years of good work carried out with Sicilian producers, always in the general interest of all members. We are now ready to improve our relations with the Italian and foreign big retail chains, guaranteeing volumes and high-quality thanks also to our certifications which include Add-On BioDiversity, IFS Food, GlobalGAP, GRASP, and SPRING."
"A journey filled with satisfaction awaits us, with producers from the best areas in Sicily: Trapani for canary yellow melons, Ragusa for tomatoes, zucchini and bell peppers, Catania for artichokes and blood oranges, Agrigento for grapes, peaches, netted melons, and blond oranges and Palma di Montechiaro for bell peppers and zucchini. Products come from structured companies located in the most fertile areas where water is guaranteed by the presence of artificial reservoirs. We boast a wide range of products with the added value of continuous quality and volumes. This year, we will also inaugurate a new warehouse with a low energy and environmental impact featuring 800 square meters of high-tech cold storage units as well as 400 square meters for processing."
The season and the markets
"Our main sales channel is the Italian and European big retail chain, which sees us competing mainly with produce from Spain; however, at the moment, we are not affected by foreign competition even though things won't remain like this for the whole season. We are making the most of it while we can, especially when it comes to bell peppers, whose prices (at production) hover between €1.50 and €2.60/kg. Cherry tomatoes hover instead between €1.50 and €2.50, and zucchini between €1.20 and €2.10. As is known, quotations depend a lot on grades, appearance, and quality, as well as on the demand-supply ratio, which can vary even during a single day."
For further information: 
Antonio Morreale
OP Bio Hortus
Contrada Senia Albanazzi Snc
92020 Palma di Montechiaro (AG)
+39 3357621355
+39 0922963737
info@biohortus.eu
www.biohortusag.com