"Assoluti is our premium line of tomato products. They are the top of our range, the result of a careful selection of tomato varieties chosen by our agronomists with the aim of obtaining excellent quality for the final consumer," says Giovanni Albani, commercial manager of the producers' organization of the same name, based in Vittoria, in the province of Ragusa, region of Sicily, who was interviewed about commercial strategies.
© Gaetano Piccione | FreshPlaza.comGiovanni Albani
What makes the Assoluti tomato line different from the standard product?
"Our main goal is to offer a product that is not only good, but also different from the classic mass-produced product," explains Albani. We look for specific characteristics such as crunchiness, a bright red color, and a sweet taste. We want it to be attractive and, above all, tasty. We currently market several varieties. We have the red datterino in 250g packs, the red cherry in 300g trays, and the Piccadilly (midi plum) in 400g packs. All these packages are branded 'Assoluti' and are made in compostable cardboard trays. The range is constantly expanding and new products will be launched next year.
"As part of the necessary research and development," continues the manager, "after a period of thorough evaluation, we are marketing a yellow datterino variety that stands out for its unique taste and exceptional shelf life. We are also evaluating the launch of a green datterino variety that is currently in its development phase. We are investing significantly in this latter variety because of its very specific characteristics: a unique taste in itself, very sweet, but with a particular aftertaste due to its low acidity. In addition to the taste, the green color is also relatively new to the market."
© Gaetano Piccione | FreshPlaza.comSmooth round cluster tomato - Assoluti tomato line
The packaging is a distinctive element when it comes to the Assoluti tomato line
"The packaging is a very important aspect because we want this product to be different from the usual one, that is to say branded, by using a smaller tray for lower weights. As I said," continues the expert, "the trays are made of cardboard and are therefore compostable, an aspect that is very important to us, that of sustainability. Our producers, who grow the varieties for the Assoluti line, are carefully monitored by our technicians and must comply with very strict production specifications. The ultimate goal is to obtain a product with the characteristics we are looking for, including a Brix level that must exceed 8 and can even reach 12-13, especially for cherries, datterini, and colored datterini. Our technicians also assist them in the choice of varieties, offering a selected range of high-quality varieties from which they can choose according to the soil and climate requirements of their plots."
© Gaetano Piccione | FreshPlaza.comRed datterino on the vine
"This also implies a different remuneration for the producers," Giovanni Albani points out. "At the moment, the Assoluti line is mainly marketed in Sicily, through the large distribution of the Arena Group (Decò), with whom we have an exclusive partnership for the areas where they are present. We also have distributors abroad, in countries such as Switzerland and Eastern Europe."
An overview of the market for standard tomatoes
We are not completely immune to fluctuations in market prices, and we must continue to take them into account," says the sales manager. The market for standard tomatoes is very stable. We have had a year with fewer price fluctuations than in the past, with medium-to-low prices. This year, at the production level of our cooperative, we had more datterino than cherry and Piccadilly; however, the mini plum remained the top reference, and the sales prices were not as high as in previous years. This was because consumption was not as strong as in the past. The ISTAT consumer price data for March showed a general inflation index on the rise, at +2.0% year-on-year. Competition from Morocco is also an important factor. When Morocco enters the market, we are often marginalized with the standard product because they can offer products at lower prices, leading to a general decline. This is because of lower production costs in Morocco."
© Albani O.P. Soc. Coop. Agr.Yellow datterino
The trend for other horticultural crops
"Other important horticultural crops for us are aubergines and peppers," Albani replies. "The round aubergine has been doing well for those who have started production early, as was the case with the purple aubergine. However, in the last two weeks, the price of the round aubergine has dropped significantly. We have seen better years, and April will be a crucial month for peppers. In addition to aubergines (round, purple, long, white and striped) and peppers (yellow, red and Sweet Palermo), we also market courgettes (green and white), cucumbers (spiny and Dutch). Finally, we also produce table grapes, mini watermelons, and melons (yellow and red)."
OP Albani will be present at Macfrut 2025 with its own exhibition space: Stand 069, Hall D1.
For more information:
Albani O.P. Società Cooperativa Agricola 
Registered office: Via Firenze, 1/d
Head office: Via Pozzo Bollente, 126
97019 Vittoria (RG) - Italy
(+39) 346 089 2271
info@albaniop.it
www.albaniop.it