Rosario Rogo (photo below), chairman of Confagricolutra Salerno and owner of the Rago company, spoke out as regards the "Terra dei Fuochi" question and the concrete risk of a drop in the orders for produce destined to the fresh-cut range in the Salerno area and in the Sele Plain in particular.
"The real problem is that there are a couple of distribution chains that have blocked the produce just because it comes from Campania, it doesn't matter whether it comes from Salerno or Caserta/Naples, which are two areas far away from each other and where organisation and productive quality couldn't be more different."
Rosario Rago, chairman of Confagricoltura Salerno.
"For all those companies, like mine, that have relations with Italian and foreign retailers, quality checks are extremely important. All of the phases, from soil preparation to shipping means, are checked constantly. We keep running tests on crops, products, water and everything we use as part of our process," explains Rago.
"The companies also own softwares that enable them to trace the goods: each company in the Sele Plain employs technicians specialised in the fields of hygiene, food and agronomics so that standards are the highest possible. Often companies have internal laboratories for microbiological control, and those who don't collaborate with external laboratories to look for the smallest residue that might be dangerous."
"To me, it is obvious that the professionalism of our companies cannot and must not be questioned. We don't perform checks because retailers demand that we do so, but because we have a modern vision which is extremely mechanised and almost reaches industrial levels."
As chairman, Rosario Rago took part in a Confagricoltura Salerno Board of Directors meeting, which was specially summoned to discuss the problem and involve the University of Naples. The possibility of monitoring the soil of the associates through a Memorandum of Understanding to map and analyse agricultural land was considered.
The results will be published on a website where the map will be entered and with the chance to have a look at the analysis already owned by the companies - as part of the certificates that every company must have - and those resulting from the monitoring carried out by the University. "All of this will be useful to create a quality brand for our produce," says Rago.
Finally, the chairman appeals to TV and mass media: "The doors of our companies are open to those who want to take a look and see how things really are. It is important to know how companies work and the safety of the productions. Those who wish to, can contact us to arrange a visit."
For further info and to arrange a visit:
Carmine Libretto - Cell.: (+39) 335 5854064
Flavia Ummarino - Cell.: (+39) 392 4166475
Confagricoltura Salerno
Viale Verdi n.1Y
84131 Salerno
Tel.: (+39) 89331729
Fax: (+39) 893867084
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.confagricolturasalerno.it