The strawberry campaign has just started at Op Primo Sole in Montescaglioso (MT). "We can confirm the excellent quality of the fruit and this week's liveliness due to Valentine's Day, which always proves to be an important occasion for consumption, even or especially of strawberries," says Francesca Appio, communication and administration manager of the Op. "The greatest interest is in Candonga Top Quality strawberries, but the growth is constant thanks to the packaging that we have designed over time to best showcase our productions: the single social plastic layer and the special Food Bag best express the quality of our fruit."
Francesca Appio, Communication and Administration Manager of Op Primo Sole, at Fruit Logistica 2025
"Our Op is part of the Candonga club and, therefore, grows and markets Sabrosa strawberries from February to late May: the variety guarantees unquestionable quality and has been able to conquer the market thanks to its unique organoleptic characteristics. But there are other varieties that are also part of our assortment: Red Sara is very productive in terms of yields and has the advantage of being an early variety, thus allowing us to be on the market as early as mid-January; Inspire best expresses itself in spring and is characterized by longer shelf-life. It is an ideal strawberry for the end of the season."
The main sales channel is certainly the big retail trade, which is flanked by the main general markets. "When it comes to strawberries, we focus on sales in Italy because we believe this is the market where we can best promote our Lucania product. This choice does not preclude our desire to approach the European markets as well which, however, have different characteristics, as for example, they prefer pinker strawberries, which usually have a longer shelf-life."
Strawberries are the fruit symbol of love par excellence, therefore the Op has created a special limited edition packaging dedicated to St. Valentine's Day.
"The joy with which we conceived our Love Edition two seasons ago and the success it enjoyed last year has prompted us to make it available again this Valentine's Day. The graphic design and packaging are dedicated to this day, with a cardboard box inspired by New York's Love Sculpture: the window displaying the product is heart-shaped, while the 'core' remains made of single-layer social plastic in line with our attention towards the environment. With a guaranteed weight of 500 grams, it will be on the fruit and vegetable counters until Valentine's Day to celebrate love with all the sweetness of our strawberries."
"Greentose-Vivaci di Stagione": how are things one year after the launch?
"Born out of an intuition, Greentose was a new and enthusiastic challenge: we wanted to 'build' a product with high service content and with a single brand, which had an innovative concept and which succeeded in its aim of speaking to the youngest, making fruit and vegetables 'pop'. One year after the official launch - which took place at Fruit Logistica 2024 - we cannot but be happy, as we have succeeded in achieving a goal that seemed unattainable 365 days ago. In addition to the commercial satisfaction due to the presence of our brand on the fruit and vegetable counters, there is the gratification of having brought home two prizes from the Berlin trade fair as recognition of our work."
"Greentose-Vivaci di Stagione": only seasonal fruit and vegetables in fully-recyclable cardboard trays and biodegradable film
As part of the special "Best Fruit&Veg Box 2024" contest dedicated to corrugated cardboard packaging and devised by the Bestack Consortium, Greentose won the best packaging per sales unit category; the overall 'Fruit&Veg Box 2024' award, obtained on the basis of the combined votes of the jury, the online public and the Fruit Logistica audience.
"The reasoning behind it gave us great emotion: a corrugated cardboard box that stands out for its ability to communicate. Colorful, like the seasonality of the products, sustainable, just like the product and the whole project, and interactive," concludes Francesca Appio.
For more information:
primosoleortofrutta.com
