Last details before the start of the Sicilian blood orange campaign

In Sicily, on the slopes of Mount Etna, the new citrus campaign, which began with blond oranges, is now in full swing. Among the companies in the heart of the Catania plain is the Uniterra Sicilia Group – Arancia Loretta, based in Paternò.

Carmelo Frisenna

“After the excellent start with the blonde Loretta oranges, with a very good harvest that will accompany us throughout the season,” said Carmelo Frisenna, sales manager of the company, “we just have to wait for the blood oranges and hope that the temperatures will change. We are looking forward to the rains and the cold weather that will allow our blood oranges to ripen and become more pigmented. The forecast says mid-December, but if we continue with these temperatures, there will a delay of a couple of weeks. Our company has always focused on quality, because that is what makes the difference in the markets. If for the 2022/23 campaign we were able to record +20% growth, for the year 2023/24 we expect an increase in volume of 30%, therefore more than enough to cover the needs of our international business customers. We are working on 1100 hectares, which means that we can count on about 11 thousand tons of commercialized product, with an increase in production of 28 thousand tons.”

We are already busy sorting,” adds the sales manager. “Small and medium sizes are predominant in the early varieties, but with some rain the sizes should be able to increase for the later varieties and areas. The lack of rain over the past few months has really kept the sizes on the small side so far. The coloration of the blood orange flesh seems normal for this time of year. The color of the flesh of the blood oranges is normal for this time of year, which is a mark of quality and makes this fruit unique and appreciated worldwide.”

“We are ready,” says the sales manager of the Uniterra Sicilia Group. “We are working hard to meet all our customers’ needs and we are convinced that this will be a wonderful season. We mainly supply supermarket chains in northern Italy (Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige), but also in northern Europe. Our oranges are very well received there because of their average high quality. It is thanks to this distinctive element that we do not suffer from the competition from abroad.”