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Orto Dirillo: an ever-evolving Italian company

Foreign markets are responding more positively than Italian markets

After a few difficult months, harvests are now back to the average for the period. The recent mild weather has helped plants and fruit to grow, and in general, yields are fully in line with the market demand.

Gianni Iachella and Valentino Lo Monaco

This marks the beginning of the season for Valentino Lo Monaco and Gianni Iachella, partners in the production and marketing of the Italian company Orto Dirillo, based in Vittoria (province of Ragusa, Sicily), who provided an overview of the current situation of the Sicilian horticultural season.

"Demand is stagnating at the moment, clearly due to the decline in consumption as it affects families affected by the high cost of living," they added. "The trade, and especially the foreign trade, is the main source of our business, and despite the current capacity shortage, we are still receiving orders."

"While producer prices are satisfactory for certain products, others are experiencing challenges. When sales are good, these products only cover costs, as is the case with courgettes, which are priced between EUR 0.50 and EUR 0.80 per kilogram, depending on the batch. The price range for the smooth, round cluster tomato is between 0.60 and 1.10 euros per kilogram, depending on the batch, and it is within this range that the difference between covering costs or making a loss is played out, with margins remaining zero in these cases. The same is true for the midi plum tomato."

"Despite the challenges, we are continuously strengthening our market position through ongoing dialogue with buyers and operators in the supply chain," according to the team at Orto Dirillo. "In recent months, we have also invested in the restyling of the company and our image. This has included the renewal of greenhouse structures and the equipping of the warehouse with high-performance equipment capable of satisfying the most stringent processing and packaging requirements. We have also acquired the necessary certifications such as GlobalGAP, GRASP, and IFS, which allow us to overcome any limitations on the marketing front with the large-scale retail trade in Europe. Our main foreign markets at the moment are Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where we are highly appreciated for our efficiency and punctuality."

The company will also soon have a new website, which will allow anyone who wishes to do so to virtually enter the company, with photos and descriptions that accurately represent the company and provide an enhanced insight into our work. At Fruit Logistica 2025, an event in which we will participate as exhibitors with our own stand in the Sicily pavilion (Hall 4.2, Stand C-40), we will officially present our new logo. This will be the company's business card for new opportunities, which we are prepared to take on eagerly and wholeheartedly."

For more information:
Orto Dirillo Srl
Vittoria (RG) - ITALY
+39 3349750025
[email protected]