LIVE from Fruit Attraction: Consumer behaviour impulses Agricola Ortogroup to refine production quality

Agricola Ortogroup S.r.l. is an Italian producer and commercializer of citrus fruit, with the headquarters and the producing plant located in Francofonte (Syracuse).

The quality excellence of the final product is key for Agricola Ortogroup, and for this reason, it has chosen to avoid, where possible, the use of chemicals in production. Its citrus fruits derive from companies that adopt integrated pest management systems and utilize more respectful techniques toward the environment and human health.

According to director of Agricola Ortogroup, Carlo Palermo, who participated in Fruit Attraction 2021, 5 years ago the company decided to consistently increase its organic production volumes: “When we started with organic production, 95% of our clients were acquiring conventional fruit, and 5% were choosing organic. Now 70% require conventional, and 30% ask for organic. There are some clients who require only organic products.”

This season, Ortogroup expects a good citrus crop in terms of volume and quality, although there was not enough rain during the year. The season is expected to start at the end of October and to last until the middle of May.

“In terms of volume, our first export market for organic red oranges is Germany.

Today, the company aims to develop and promote new types of packaging: eco-compatible, compostable materials, cartons, and alternatives: “Swiss buyers require recyclable nets, and we already supply this type of packaging. Carton packaging is difficult to use because sometimes it is not so useful for a heavy product like orange. You have to use a very resistant carton in this case.”, highlights Palermo.

For more information about Agricola Ortogroup S.r.l., see the website