The Sicilian bell pepper campaign takes place between September and late June in the various areas of the island. The main productions are grown in polytunnels along the southern coast, but good quantities also come from greenhouses. The main type is the "1/2 long" or "3/4" (lamuyo)". FreshPlaza has talked about it with Salvatore Astuto from OP Platinum located in Ragusa, Sicily.
Salvatore Astuto
"Given the lack of produce availability due to various reasons both in Italy and Spain, prices have been high throughout the campaign, also reaching €3.50/kg at production at times. At the moment, quotations have stabilized at around €2.50/kg, though we don't know for how long. We specialize in the production of the Sweet Palermo variety by Rijk Zwaan, which is easily digestible and stands out on the market due to its unique organoleptic qualities. The production is almost uninterrupted all year round, and we destined 5 hectares to it. It is just us and a few other producers in Sicily who grow this unique variety."
"Hormone free" and "Nickel free" eggplants
"We have also recently purchased new machines for the sorting and packaging of products like tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and eggplants. In particular, a very innovative UV ray system enables us to reduce the bacterial load by 90%, meaning not only that vegetables have a shelf life that is 12 days longer, but also that they are safer. It is a guarantee for the whole chain and, most of all, for final consumers! Our new packaging machines place the produce in clear plastic trays, which are now the state of the art when it comes hygiene and shelf-life. We did this to meet the requirements of a new distributor brand at Conad."
UV ray sorter
OP Platinum at Macfrut 2023
"As for our internal processes, we continue to work on the traceability of all our products through a QR-code system which consumers find on the label, documenting the entire path of each single product. We have our certifications at heart, as they testify to the integrity of our products. Macfrut 2023 will be the opportunity to launch our new Nickel Free tomato sauce and puree range, which will raise the interest of international distributor operators who deal with healthy products."
OP Platinum warehouse
Op Platinum will attend the Rimini fair in Hall B4, Stand n. 001
For further information:
Salvatore Astuto
O.P. Platinum Soc. Coop. Agr. 
C.da Piombo, s.n.
97100 Ragusa - Italy
+39 330 814094
+39 339 4191445
[email protected]
www.opplatinum.it