Piano Conti was set up as a Producer Organisation in Sicily about a year ago, and now boasts 33 member farms. Production focuses mainly on fresh vegetables, including tomatoes - in the cherry, date, ramato, cuore di bue and pixel varieties - as well as cucumbers, aubergines, courgettes and peppers. Among the specialities we find yellow courgettes, which are prized for their delicate flavour and distinctive colouring.
The vegetables are grown in greenhouses throughout the year, a choice that ensures continuity of production even in the face of the climatic anomalies that have affected the Sicilian territory in recent years. At the Sana Food 2026 fair, which is dedicated to conscious and sustainable food, OP Piano Conti presented 'Nikelfrì', the new line of Nickel Free vegetables.
© Maria Luigia Brusco | HortiDaily.com
Gianluca and Concetta Galanti, OP Piano Conti representatives at Sana Food 2026
Tomatoes and courgettes are cultivated in modern hi-tech hydroponic greenhouses on coir packs, a technology that allows precise management of the nutritional intake and a close monitoring of plant development. This system also allows strict control of the presence of nickel, keeping values below 0.01 ppm. This is particularly significant for people suffering from Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome (SNAS), an increasingly common condition that requires great attention to the amount of nickel ingested through food. "We don't want to sell a problem, but rather to promote the benefits of consuming products that are not only good for you, but also good for your health," says Gianluca Galanti, Sales Manager Italy of the PO.
The handling of fresh produce, especially when certified Nickel Free, requires strict logistical procedures to guarantee its integrity during transport from Sicily to the European markets. "First of all, we focus on sustainable materials by using cardboard or plastic trays that are certified and 100% recyclable. Great attention is also paid to the prevention of contamination: the packaging is designed to prevent the Nickel Free product coming into contact with other goods containing nickel during transport. Distribution takes place mainly by road and reaches many European markets, even reaching distant destinations such as Latvia," explains Galanti.
© OP Piano Conti
Left to right: Concetta, Carmelo, Gianluca and Giusi Galanti, the third generation of OP Piano Conti
Naming as a generational bridge
To explain the meaning of the Nickel Free certification to consumers, the PO decided to use immediate and accessible communication, starting with the name of the line: 'Nikelfrì'. A deliberately playful, almost phonetic choice, inspired by the way the second generation of the Galanti family pronounces the word.
A marketing intuition that brings the brand closer to consumers and facilitates memorisation, transforming a technical concept into something familiar and recognisable. In this way, the language of innovation meets the language of tradition, bringing together technology and agricultural roots. "Our vision is of an agriculture where the process does not erase the roots," Galanti concludes.
For more information:
OP Piano Conti
C.da Piano Conti s.n.c.
97018 Scicli (RG) - Italy
[email protected]
www.pianoconti.it
