The question of whether banana cultivation requires the African or South American climate is an easily answered one. Indeed, as demonstrated by the Alba Bio OP in Marina di Ragusa (Ragusa), it is possible to successfully cultivate bananas in Sicily. The company has been conducting experiments with the Cavendish variety on site for some time and has now achieved a successful annual yield in a small covered plot with an unheated greenhouse, which guarantees continuity throughout the year.
Vittorio Gona
"We have been conducting rigorous testing for some time," says Vittorio Giona of OP Coop Alba Bio. "And now, in addition to optimizing the agronomic process, we are fine-tuning the financial aspects, including annual yields, operational expenses per hectare, and market trends at the national and European levels. The motivation behind this initiative stems from our aspiration to diversify our product portfolio, building on our prior experience with mango and avocado. If these variables are met, we will proceed with extending the areas cultivated both in the greenhouse and in the open field. This approach leverages the favorable climate conditions at our location, combined with our specialized cold greenhouse cultivation technique that does not require artificial heating for specific crop cycles. We therefore anticipate resuming full production by the end of December. We are not deterred by the possibility of subzero temperatures typical of the Sicilian winter."
Bananas grown in Marina di Ragusa (Sicily)
"From the first feedback we received from our business partners, it became clear that we had succeeded in offering a product of Italian origin, which is of particular significance in the context of organic farming," says the manager. "Another advantage of our fruit is that it is highly sustainable with a very low carbon footprint because it is not transported long distances via sea and therefore results in far lower CO2 emissions into the atmosphere."
Bananas grown in Marina di Ragusa (Sicily)
"The marketing strategy is centered on promoting the sustainability and health benefits of the product in European markets," explains Gona. "The dialogue with Italian as well as with foreign large-scale retail chains is helping us to optimize the positioning, value, and diffusion of our bananas. While these evaluations are preliminary, there is a strong likelihood that, given the premium nature of our organic Italian fruit, we can expect to quote a price range between €1.30 and €1.70 per kilogram."
Avocados produced by OP Alba Bio (Sicily)
"In the ongoing pursuit of novel product offerings, our team is committed to cultivating the most suitable cultivars for our region, ensuring the continuous enhancement and success of our operations. Meanwhile, we are continuing to successfully cultivate organic avocados. The harvest season has already begun this December and is scheduled to end in April 2025."
For more information: 
Vittorio Gona
O.P. Coop. Alba Bio
97010 Marina di Ragusa (RG) - Italy
Tel.: +39 0932 239003
[email protected]
www.gruppoalbabio.it