"A clear strategy and complete supply chain to relaunch Reggio Calabria bergamot oranges"

"2024 was a complex year for bergamot oranges, marked by a slowdown in the fresh market and a drop in the demand for essential oil. We didn't stop, though, as we decided to react by structuring ourselves as a group, thus controlling every stage of the supply chain in a coordinated manner," reports Saverio Trunfio, managing director of Patea Srl, a trading company specialising in bergamot oranges for the domestic and foreign markets.

© Concetta Di Lunardo | FreshPlaza.com In the photo, Saverio Trunfio is promoting the range of Patea-branded processed products at the fair. Among the new products is the Cardus bitter, made from local ingredients such as wild thistle, blueberry, and bergamot peel from Reggio Calabria.

The group now boasts three entities: the Bergamia Agricultural Cooperative, which brings together over 200 producers and guarantees the availability of the fresh fruit; the Patea farm, i.e., the heart of processing with plants dedicated to processing essential oils, juices, and liqueurs; and the new Patea Srl, focused on distribution and commercial development.

"This organisation allows us to face challenges with greater strength, and to offer buyers a single, reliable interlocutor capable of guaranteeing traceability, service quality and continuity in supplies, to meet the demands of the big retail chains."

Alongside the flagship product represented by the precious "bergamot orange essential oil", the group is diversifying its food & beverage line.

"After the success of the Cardus bitter, which was also awarded at the national level, we launched the Aloe & Bergamot juice, which combines functionality and innovation, and we are working on new products that we will officially present in the coming months. We strongly believe in the diversification of processed products, as they meet the needs of attentive consumers and open up concrete outlets on the international markets."

Among the most popular juices is the Calabrian and Sicilian mango juice, which was surprisingly successful this past summer.

"We have received enthusiastic feedback even from consumers from countries where mangoes are part of the everyday diet. The fact that they have identified a unique aromatic profile in our processing is a source of great pride for us."

"A separate chapter is dedicated to pure bergamot orange juice, which is attracting increasing interest, especially in the Asian markets. It is a product that finds a place in the food and nutraceutical industry, so it represents a great opportunity for exploitation. We are ready to invest resources and energy to consolidate this niche and make it more and more strategic."

"As for the fresh market, we have decided to take a further step, as, in 2025, we will launch a commercial strategy to bring fresh bergamot oranges into the big retail trade. It is an important challenge, because it is a special fruit, and we believe that the time is ripe to make it known to a wider public without giving up the quality that sets us apart."

With over 15 hectares, plus 300 hectares coordinated by the cooperative and a modern factory in Brancaleone, the group aims to confirm its role as a point of reference for bergamot oranges. "Our objective is clear: to make sure that only high-quality products come out of our plants, capable of conveying the identity of a unique territory and the resilience of those who work there with passion every day," concludes the managing director.

For more information:
Fabio Trunfio
Company Patea Srl
Contrada Caldara s.n.
89036 Brancaleone (RC) - Italy
+39 338 6311477
[email protected]
www.essabergam