"This year, the domestic market is finally showing some interest after having considered these lemons too expensive for a long time. In this way, we are starting to fill a gap when it comes to high-quality lemon consumption in our country. It's easy to talk about healthy diets and gourmet food when the best productions are only demanded and well-paid abroad."
"Harvesting is already in full swing and our partners have been bringing their productions to us since late October. Quality this year is excellent and we are expecting to be satisfied with the season despite the summer heat. 90% of the current fruit is organic."
As mentioned, the trend has reversed this year as organic lemons from Syracuse are finally finding their place on retailer shelves. It's an important fact that so far, however, has only happened in the north. The hope is for all Italian consumers to be able to purchase high-quality produce from Syracuse, which has been considered a niche product so far.
Above: the PASAM facility
Processing is carried out in an 8,000 sq m facility that collects 7,500 tons of lemons from 70 members every year. Once at the facility, the hand-harvested lemons are washed, dried, graded and packaged in crates, loose, Girsacs or Vertbags depending on client demands.
Above: the PASAM facility
Processing is carried out in an 8,000 sq m facility that collects 7,500 tons of lemons from 70 members every year. Once at the facility, the hand-harvested lemons are washed, dried, graded and packaged in crates, loose, Girsacs or Vertbags depending on client demands.
"Volumes destined to Germany are in line with previous years. Central Europe is traditionally well-disposed towards high-quality organic products. Out of 250 hectares, 180 are organic and 80% of the produce is destined exclusively to Germany and Austria. The rest has always been shipped to various European countries. Demand increasing in Italy is welcome news."
PASAM lemon grove
Soc. Coop. P.A.S.A.M. Agrumi, in order to guarantee the maximum professionalism to its clients, decided to renew the GRASP ethical certification that is particularly appreciated by German retail chains which, just like P.A.S.A.M., have always cared about worker protection.
"We are also working to obtain the BIO Suisse certification required by Swiss retailers, which showed a lot of interest for our Sicilian lemons."
Agronomist Salvatore Magliocco, Vice-president at PASAM.
Nothing is left to chance at P.A.S.A.M., where Salvatore Magliocco equipped the company with an Integrated Quality, Safety and Environmental System compliant with the leading standards on the European market: IFS Food, GlobalGAP, UNI EN ISO 9002 and HACCP. Together with the other certifications mentioned above, they make the cooperative one of the most committed as regards food safety.
Contacts:
P.A.S.A.M. Agrumi Soc. Coop. Agricola a r.l.
Produttori Agricoli Siracusani Associati Magliocco
Tel.: +39 0931722333
Fax: +39 0931722258
Email: info@pasamagrumi.it
Web: www.pasamagrumi.it