Cassatelle Siciliane, the brand for Tarocco Lempso and Ippolito blood oranges, is back on shelves in Italy and some European countries as of today. This year, it comes in a special packaging.
"Until now, the available quantities have not been enough to afford a special packaging line. Therefore, in the past two seasons we have offered customers mixed crates with both traditional and Lempso blood oranges. Now that it has become easier to find an adequate amount of product thanks to the increased productivity of the plots, we have launched a new 10 kg (30x50 cm) carton that contains only Cassatelle Siciliane citrus, embellished with some traditional graphic decorations," Michele Sodano of the Campania-based Ortofrutta Mele company tells us from an orchard in Palagonia (Sicily). Michele is the creator of this brand that aims to highlight the sweetness of the orange.
Michele Sodano surrounded by Cassatelle Siciliane oranges
"Every week, around 120 tons of Cassatelle oranges leave our packing station towards a number of Italian wholesale markets. Many of the volumes are bought by traders from Campania and Lazio, but also from Belgium. A nice pack with attractive fruit does not go unnoticed on the shelf, despite its not exactly low price. Growers' prices for Lempso and Ippolito are also high; we are talking about a euro per kilo. That's why consumers prefer to buy smaller sizes. We see a high demand for sizes 8, 9 and 10."
Sodano explains that sales of Cassatelle Siciliane oranges run from mid-December to early April. "This year, however, we expect to finish a few weeks earlier. We get a lot of orders from abroad. The demand there is much livelier than in Italy. Some compare our oranges to sweets. They are juicy, delicious, fragrant and beautiful to look at with their vermillion-red skin."
For more information:
Michele Sodano
Cell.: +39 333 3367869
Ortofrutta di Mele Carmela sas
Via Orlando 29
80049 Somma Vesuviana (NA)
+39 081 5307933
[email protected]