C.A.I will double its capacity by implementing current production and diversifying offer with new products

Cooperativa Agricoltori Ionici (C.A.I) is a citrus producing company based in Furci Siculo, province of Messina, Italy. The company possesses 2 warehouses, one in Sicily, and another one in Tuscany. At Macfrut, Fructidor had an opportunity to talk with Salvatore Scarcella, general director of C.A.I. and Antonio Lo Conte, Accounting and control Junior manager.

In Sicily, 70% of their production is devoted to lemons and 30% to oranges. 

“80% of our lemon production is organic, and 100% of our oranges are organic also. In 2001 we obtained the certification of Organic Supplier”, says Salvatore Scarcella, general director of C.A.I.  

The Tuscany warehouse production is focused on organic zucchinis, carrots, apples, onions, pumpkins and many other products. C.A.I has an exclusive contract with one of the biggest retail chains in Italy, and cooperates with the biggest supermarket chains in Germany, France, Lituania, Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Switzerland. 

“What differentiates us from our competitors is that our lemons are all made in Sicily. We produce all year round: we start in September with Interdonato variety, a special variety from Messina, then from October to June we cultivate and trade Primofiore lemon, and then from June to September we have Verdello, our summer variety. We also offer Navel, Moro and Valencia oranges from November to June or July. This year there was a higher crop volume, so we had the harvest until the middle of July, while usually we work until the beginning of June”, comments Scarcella.

“In the upcoming months, we plan to double the capacity of our warehouse in Sicily by improving the current volumes and diversifying our offer with mandarins, clementines, and grapefruit. It’s a good thing also for the local community, because we provide workplaces not only for those who live next to the warehouse, but also for those from the countryside. All our employees are officially employed which is very important for us”, highlights the general director.

“The key aspect for Cooperativa Agricoltori Ionici is the relationship that we have with people. We are friends of our clients and friends of our suppliers”, concluded Salvatore Scarcella.

For more information about Cooperativa Agricoltori Ionici, see the website

For contact: 

caiarl@caiarl.com

+39 094 279 18 83