The producers' organization Ioppì, which combines more than 110 farms, with 300 hectares of greenhouses from Gela to Pachino, has organized the annual event called Ioppì Meet - Incontro Produttivo.
OP Ioppì on the road in order to choose the companies to be awarded
The idea, born at the end of 2019, could not take place back then due to Covid. The pandemic, however, did not affect the productivity and drive of the farms and cooperatives that are members of the PO; the turnover achieved in 2020 exceeded €30 million. Based on the forecasts, this threshold has already been largely surpassed in 2021.
"Our fruit and vegetable company is one of the most well-structured among the Sicilian fruit and vegetable producers' organizations," the company stated. The production lines include tomatoes of different segments and varieties, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and different types of eggplant.
Roberta Tardera, manageress of the project
Among the valuable crops, there are also different types of PGI tomatoes from Pachino, produced by an associate farm that also grows mini watermelons and netted melons, and PGI grapes from Mazzarrone, also produced by an associated farm.
All of the produce, which amounts to over 24,000 tons per year, is destined almost exclusively for the Italian market (over 75%); the rest goes to the European market and to non-EU countries.
In the last few years, the PO's brand has not only grown but has also opened up to new commercial scenarios. Today, Ioppì branded products are present in the biggest regional and national large-scale retail groups. To celebrate and appreciate the efforts and hard work of the members of the PO, the management has decided to establish an annual award.
The award aims to identify and reward the companies and members who have stood out, among all others, for their leadership, specifically for the increase in quality, the management of the plant and facilities, for the quality of the crops, including all those operations that are part of the production process, sustainability with regard to hygiene practices, energy efficiency, and environmental impact, cooperation regarding the management of documentation, and relations with the technicians and staff of the PO.
These days, the PO's team of agronomists, supported by external specialists from the event's partners, is concluding its visits to the companies in order to collect the data necessary for the final evaluation, in order to choose the companies that will receive the 'Ioppì 2021 Award'.
This acknowledgment, reserved to just four out of all the companies and members of Ioppì, will be assigned during the first edition of IOPPI MEET - Incontro Produttivo, scheduled for Thursday 16 December 2021, starting at 6:00 pm in Vittoria, Sicily.
For more information:
Roberta Tardera
OP Ioppì
info@ioppi.eu
www.ioppi.eu