Pomegranate juice production expected to double in 2023

"The increase in orders for cold-pressed natural juices is growing, especially in the ice cream and pastry sectors; we are noticing that the consumer, rather than price, is looking at raw materials with a traceable supply chain, processed from fresh. So while the market feedback is encouraging, in other ways in this particular period unfortunately the high cost of energy totally undermines our marginality," said Vincenzo Mirrione, owner with his brothers Alessandro and Francesco of the Sicilian firm Migel Srl, founded in the 1980s by their father Pasquale Mirrione

"Electricity bills had already doubled in 2021 compared to 2020 and, most seriously for the very survival of all sectors of the business, in 2022 they touched 300 percent increases. All this, of course, is reflected in the cost of final products and services, with the risk that by raising prices too high, households will not be able to fill their shopping carts."

Migel was born as an ice cream distribution company, with important clients such as Algida and Findus; in 2002 it started its own business with a small laboratory for processing native Sicilian strawberries and Camarosa variety strawberries. Today it covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters and is based in the industrial area of Carini (Palermo).

The company's plant is large and well equipped, with five refrigerated cells, packaging machinery, quality control systems and effective distribution methods to intercept specific needs and market opportunities. The brand processes, also on behalf of third parties, large quantities of Akko and Wonderful variety pomegranates and a wide assortment of other locally sourced fruits including lemons, blood and blonde oranges, tangerines, watermelons, strawberries, prickly pears, black mulberries and peaches.

"We specialize in processing lemons and pomegranates, from which we obtain juices, purees and semi-finished products. From next week we will start processing Sicilian pomegranate with volumes that, in terms of production, promise 20 percent higher yields. This is given that many young plants planted in the last six years are now in peak production. We will start with the Akko and Parfianca varieties and continue from mid-October with Wonderful. Fruits are medium to large in size, with early ripening due to high temperatures. Among the new products we have recently launched is the prickly pear, which we process into puree. This is a highly appreciated fruit that is gaining, like the pomegranate, wide commercial ground because of its high nutritional characteristics."

The company processes about 300 total tons of raw material processed from fresh and first-rate, which follows the seasonality of production and has nothing to do with a product processed by and for industries. The juice is blast chilled to -30° to stop all fermentation processes and bagged in thin packs in 2.5 kg sizes for the basic customer, in 10-20-25 kg buckets and 200 kg drums for industry. All products, within three hours of the start of processing, are packaged and quickly launched for marketing in the artisan ice cream and pastry sectors in Italy and abroad (Sweden, Norway and Malta).

"Based on orders, from the next campaign we expect to double the production of pomegranate juice, averaging around 150 tons. This is a product in great demand, which we also give to processing companies that blend it with bergamot or other fruits. The high demand for the juices, which we also process on a contract basis, is linked to a positive approach the consumer shows for small-scale artisanal production. The close connection of the productions with the territory is an element of strength for a fast-growing sector," concluded Vincenzo Mirrione.