"Organic production is aimed at consumers who are aware of its health and environmental benefits. The products have higher price brackets than traditional ones, a value recognised by consumers precisely because of their sustainability. Moreover, as scientific research shows, if the Mediterranean diet is good for your health, the foods that make it up are even better for you if they are organic," explains Mattia Giudice, export manager of Arc en Ciel, a company that produces jams, marmalade, compotes, fruit juices, drinks and sauces to high quality standards.
In the photo: Mattia Giudice, export manager of Arc en Ciel
Thanks to peer-reviewed publications, scientific research highlights statistically-significant differences in nutritional composition between organic and conventional crops. Most importantly, concentrations of a range of antioxidants such as polyphenols were found to be substantially higher in organic crops.
The Arc en Ciel cooperative was founded in Ceres (TO), surrounded by the mountains, woods, water and rocks of the Lanzo Valleys, and later moved to the slopes of Monbasso, in Cafasse (TO). A pioneer in the production and processing of organic products, Arc en Ciel is a business model which grasped the importance of the environmental sustainability of organic products already already forty years ago. This foresight translated into experience in the production of numerous products available on the shelves of large-scale retailers in Italy and abroad. Environmental, social and economic sustainability are key to this company which, although continuously growing, maintains an accurate quality control of its production and a concrete relationship with its associated cooperatives.
Arc en Ciel boasts a long-standing tradition, as it is a pioneer in the field of organic production. With its over 50 producer members, it can count on 40 years of history. The agricultural cooperative was founded in 1983 and is a business linked to the territory and its products, as well as to Italian agri-food specialities deriving from a great heritage of biodiversity. It produces jams, marmalade, compotes, fruit juices, drinks and sauces to high quality standards.
"Our flagship product is the orange and ginger juice, which is available for the big retail chain in 500 ml bottles. It is organic orange juice from the Sicilian supply chain, obtained from concentrate. Other branded products include wild blueberry juice, a healthy product that we buy in Romania. The line is completed by the Citrus and Ginger, Orange Carrot Lemon and Ginger, Lime and Ginger, and Pomegranate and Blueberry flavours."
Although blueberry crops are growing in Italy, quantities are still scarce, so operators turn to suppliers in eastern countries, especially Poland and Romania, to source raw material. Italian wild blueberries have an excellent quality and are characterised by good yields and persistent fruit taste. It is a rustic, very weather-resistant species which, with the exception of hailstorms, does not fear harsh winters, i.e. neither snow nor low winter temperatures.
As far as ginger is concerned, the company mainly uses the fresh organic product from Peru, which is known to be of high quality, and therefore has a significantly higher market price than product from Brazil or China.
"Every production phase is monitored in the pursuit of genuineness and quality. That is why the raw material is processed at low temperatures to safeguard the organoleptic properties of the fruit, with very little sugar added. When it comes to jam, we manage to keep the added sugars under control thanks to the use of ripe fruit that already has a high Brix level, while the compotes contain only fruit sugars. Our preferred channels are the big retail chain and specialised shops."
For more information:
Mattia Giudice
Arc en Ciel
Via Roma, 108
10070 - Cafasse (TO) - Italy
+39 0123 416003
+39 346 096 6492
[email protected]
https://www.arc-en-ciel.it