Berries, Del Monte: "Why We Are Focusing on Sicily"
Del Monte chooses Sicily to enter the berries market. Gianluigi Bertelli, senior sales manager of the multinational company, presented the project in Marsala during the recent third Symposium on Strawberries and Berries.
Del Monte is currently one of the world's largest vertically integrated distributors in the pineapple and banana market, with approximately 40,000 hectares in production: its products are marketed in 80 countries and the company operates in 22 of them; it collaborates with 6,700 agricultural companies.
Given these numbers, in recent years Del Monte has started to diversify its offerings. "Pineapples and bananas are doing well, but we need to start looking at other products like kiwi, melons, citrus fruits, and berries," explained Gianluigi Bertelli. The berries market itself is full of potential, with revenue and consumption on the rise unlike other fruits.
A New Production Concept
For soft fruit, Del Monte has chosen to start in Sicily with a new production idea and in collaboration with local producers.
There are two main reasons. On one hand, the decision is supported by market analysis: the island shows an increase in consumption in this segment, making it an interesting investment area. On the other hand, there is also an advantage on the production front: the island guarantees a very long production season.
As Bertelli explained to myfruit.it, "Sicily can offer 10 months of raspberry production or eight months of blackberries, significantly advancing the blueberry season. That's why we're here, with clear ideas." The goal is to cover the Sicilian and southern Italian markets.
The project will start in September 2024thanks to the collaboration with the agricultural company A piccoli frutti of Vito Gambina, based in Marsala, which will provide its already certified warehouse in option A, ready to become a center for collection, control, and distribution.
"Our idea is to have warehouses close to consumers," explains Bertelli. A fundamental prerequisite for entering the circuit is the possession of the necessary company certifications. "For us, it is a fundamental element, a guarantee of quality," concludes Gianluigi Bertelli. Del Monte will ensure a fixed price for producers throughout the year.
Source: myfruit.it
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