"We are thrilled to have reached the Final of the Cooking Quiz held last weekend at Teatro Olimpico in Rome. It was a very important training event which we attended to share our company values through targeted lessons followed by debates with future professionals from the hotel and catering sector. Specifically, we shared our expertise and vision to promote a healthy and correct nutrition, the recovery of biodiversity, the promotion of local food products and the fight against food waste," explained Martina Buccolini, owner and marketing manager at SIGI, a company that grows and processes ancient or wild fruit varieties such as visciola cherries, jujubes, quinces, black mulberries, pink apples, white figs, brugnolette (a sort of wild plums), gooseberry, sorbus and chokeberries.
SiGi was set up in 1996 and is named after its two founders, Silvano and Giuliana. Silvano immediately decided to plant trees that reminded him of his youth, especially those of species that are slowly disappearing such as black mulberries, jujubes, medlars, cornelian cherries... rustic plants that have beautiful flowers as well! Giuliana owned a plot that was planted with local varieties such as pink apples from the Sibillini mountains.
SiGi is a company that has become quite well-known also thanks to product innovation and original pairings. For example, brugnolette jam, made with small plums that boast a deep sour flavor and which are ready for harvesting starting from June, is very sought after by Michelin-starred chefs. There is also cocoa apple jam, spicy apple jam or Angelica pear products, white figs or apple, pear, orange and lemon jam, not to talk about visciola cherries, which are processed with great patience.
"We are proud of having brought back to the market fruits and recipes that were disappearing even from the memory of the few growers who are passionate about biodiversity. Our distinctive products include white fig jam or sweet-and-sour figs in white wine and vinegar. We also have elderberry jam made with apples, strawberries and elder flowers."
Our compotes are 100% fruit with no added sugars, so they are healthy and with few calories - gluten, lactose and pectin-free - suitable for all, especially for those who need to be careful about their blood sugar level and for those who love the sourish and authentic flavor of fruit. Processing techniques are fully artisanal: just a lot of work and hard labor, without the use of technology.
"We are also involved in a Social Agriculture projects in collaboration with Anffas Macerata and the University of Macerata: a lovely social and work integration journey with disadvantaged children in a wonderful natural context! We love being inclusive and supportive of the people who surround us, because we believe a better world is possible starting from small and simple individual actions. During the Final of the Cooking Quiz, we made products and lab equipment available to school students, as well as our expertise and vision to widen their knowledge and training."
35% of the Agricola Si.Gi. turnover comes from boutiques and specialized stores in Canada, US, Japan, Sweden, France, Poland and Greece.
For more information:
Azienda Agricola Si.Gi.
Contrada Acquevive, 25
62100 Macerata - Italy
Tel.: (+39) 0733 281462
(+39) 335 1253830
[email protected]
www.agricolasigi.it