Agritalia's Marketing Manager Santo Margarone (in the photo above) explains that "produce is cultivated in our own groves and collected from partners. We decided to mainly supply retailers to find the perfect distribution-consumption combination."
"We focus on having fair commercial relationships and try to always supply high-quality produce that meets consumer demands. These may seem simple objectives, but all company collaborators work hard to achieve them. We are aware that reaching specific quality and efficiency standards is the only way to be credible on the market and tackle future challenges."
According to what is reported by the entrepreneur, despite the lower volumes of the 2016/17 season, grades in early production on average were medium. This is true especially for the produce grown in groves weakened by the CTV-Citrus Tristeza Virus.
Grades are instead medium-large for blood oranges coming from healthy groves. In any case, old groves produce increasingly less, alternating overproduction with scarce production.
"We are currently registering a 50% drop in production. We are trying to compensate with the new groves. It is still the beginning of the campaign, though."
"The commercialisation peak for blood oranges is between January and March. This year, prices are higher than last year, when overproduction drove them down. For example, while in 2015 produce of medium-high quality was worth €0.15-0.25/kg, this year, the same produce is worth €0.40-0.50/kg. Then it also depends on quality and type of cultivar, of course."
"We are currently registering a 50% drop in production. We are trying to compensate with the new groves. It is still the beginning of the campaign, though."
"The commercialisation peak for blood oranges is between January and March. This year, prices are higher than last year, when overproduction drove them down. For example, while in 2015 produce of medium-high quality was worth €0.15-0.25/kg, this year, the same produce is worth €0.40-0.50/kg. Then it also depends on quality and type of cultivar, of course."
"Quantities of Moro and Sanguinello are scarce, but actually most demands are for the Tarocco variety, which represents 80% of the market. Our product has a unique pigmentation created by our microclimate - no one can compete."
"If Spain beats us with blonde oranges, at least their produce is no match for ours for what concerns the blood varieties. We supply our citrus fruit to the Italian market - 70% to retailers, 20% to wholesalers and 10% to H&R. In the future, we would like to start exporting to Northern Europe, especially to the Netherlands, Great Britain and Scandinavia."
Contacts:
Agritalia soc.coop. agricola
Via Palermo, Z.I.
95046 Palagonia (CT)
Tel.: (+39) 095 7951086
Cell.: (+39) 335 1229873
Email: info@agritalia.info
Facebook: Agritalia soc.coop.agricola