Despite the many initiatives aimed at consumers, many people are still unaware of the origin of their food or how it is produced.
In this context, the PDO mark is a guarantee of the origin, quality and transparency of a product, so much so that not many products obtain it.
Products with the PDO mark have peculiar organoleptic characteristics that strictly depend on the fact that they are grown in a specific territory.
It's the case of Arancia di Ribera DOP - the mark was awarded by the European Community on 26th May 2010. It is a blonde variety cultivated in the Ribera municipality near Agrigento, Sicily.
Obtaining the PDO mark was a great accomplishment that enabled the product to become part of the policies to promote high-quality brands and, therefore, to become known abroad as well.
One of the retailers in Germany is Biofruit Trading, a company based in Berlin leading in the production and export of organic citrus fruit in Europe. Germany is in fact the main outlet for this fruit and absorbs 65% of exported quantities. It is followed by France, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Volumes exported represent 10% of the total and are made up mostly of PDO and organic oranges. The main market remains the domestic one. While the production certified as Arancia di Ribera DOP reaches 5 million kg, the Riberella reaches 20 million.
The 2016/17 citrus fruit campaign went well and, despite weather problems (floods on 25th November 2016 and hailstorms and frost in early 2017), quality and grades were excellent.
"The campaign ended well. Lower volumes, combined with weather damage and good sales, meant the campaign ended earlier. It's the first time facilities finished processing between late February and early March," reported Giuseppe Pasciuta, President of Consorzio di tutela dell'Arancia di Ribera DOP.
"What we experienced this year is a further confirmation of the fact that we need new groves with late varieties like Powerll, Chislett, Navelate and Lanelate with rootstocks resistant to CTV. 500 to 1,000 hectares would be enough to extend the campaign to April or even mid-May."
In the meantime, the interest of the European market for high-quality brands and organic products is increasing, but a stronger communication is needed as final consumers want to know the history of the product. The Sicilian produce is excellent but associations are needed as well as good communication to be more successful on the foreign markets.
Giuseppe Pasciuta
"Working together is essential in an increasingly demanding market. Establishing a PO, creating a business network for the Polish market, initiatives to support San Patrignano and other territories which were hit by the earthquake are positive ways to promote our products."
"Our territory believes in these oranges because, at the moment, they are one of the few profitable investments. Strengthening Arancia di Ribera DOP would mean being able to tackle market challenges better and guarantee a suitable income for the many producers located in 14 municipalities, for whom these oranges are among the main economic resources, maybe even the only one."
For further information:
Consorzio di Tutela Arancia di Ribera DOP Riberella
Via Quasimodo s.n.
92016 Ribera (AG) - Italy
Tel.: (+39) 0925 5615221
Email: info@aranciadiriberadop
Web: www.aranciadiriberadop.it