"In order to maintain high quality standards and guarantee our trading partners a premium product, we harvest our citrus fruits at the perfect time. This means high labour costs, considering that fruits are not harvested all at once. We wait for the natural ripening time so that size, pigmentation and sugar content can guarantee an attractive product that is appreciated by the market," explains Giancarlo Auteri, sales manager of the Sicilian company Auterfruit, based in Palagonia (CT).
In the photo: Gaetano Auteri and Giancarlo Auteri
Auterfruit produces oranges on the company's own land, located in an ideal area for growing large quantities of a wide variety of citrus fruits, specifically: Navel blond oranges, lemons and Tarocco Gallo blood oranges, the crown jewel of the company's assortment.
In the company's 300 square metre plant, fruits are processed using very traditional methods for harvesting, processing and storing citrus fruits, at the right temperatures and without forcing them. This guarantees healthiness and taste at the marketing stage. By taking special care during processing, it is possible to achieve a shelf life of 15-20 days.
"In our citrus plantations located in Palagonia (CT), there has been no significant rain for over 16 months. A situation burdened by the drought in July and August, two months characterised by temperatures that touched 45°C, affecting the current campaign. We have always irrigated the land in order to support the plants, but the dams in Sicily are dry because there is no rain and the soil is arid: that is why Sicily has been declared at risk of aridity and desertification. As the entire agricultural sector is suffering from the climate crisis, we would like to encourage young people to consume fresh oranges made in Italy, both for their healthy properties and to safeguard producers. Luckily, the Sicilian citrus fruit sector is in part being supported by the growing tendency to buy sustainable local fruits and vegetables."
"In recent years, we have also grown on the foreign markets thanks to the honesty and reliability with which we deal with our business partners, first and foremost ItalFrutta Distribuzioni Srl based in Milan, with whom we work every day to advertise the authenticity of our products. Even in this particular campaign, which promises good quality fruit and volumes, we were able to start the campaign in early October thanks to the fruit selection we carry out at harvest time."
"Our e-commerce www.aranceauterfruit.com is also growing. We are targeting all families and, more generally, consumers who care about a transparent supply chain. We guarantee produce with a traceable supply chain, which is therefore fresh and natural, shipped within a few hours of harvesting."
For more information:
Azienda Agricola Auterfruit
Auteri Gaetano
[email protected]
www.aranceauterfruit.com