International delegation tours Italy's Basilicata region
International delegation tours Italy's Basilicata region
BASILICATA, ITALY -- Produce, food and wine distributors, importers, and buyers from around the world toured production facilities and farms throughout the Basilicata region of Italy Jan. 16-20. Members of the group of approximately 25 people came from nearly every corner of the world, such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Abu Dhabi, the United States and Russia, and included national officials from some of the countries and several journalists.
The workshop and mission were a collaborative effort stemming from the 2004 formation of the Institute of International Commerce for the Region of Basilicata and the Institute of International Commerce. Its purpose was to introduce quality products produced in the district of Metapontino (a specific region in Basilicata) to foreign markets. ICE, the District of Metapontino, the Region of Basilicata and the Italian (National) Institute of International Commerce for the Puglia and Basilicata regions hosted the program The delegation was based in Scanzano Jonico for the five-day event, but it toured surrounding areas and saw the many products produced in the region.
Tim (TJ) Fleming Jr. and Franco Alimondi, produce buyers for Strube Celery & Vegetable Co. in Chicago, were among the participants in the delegation. "Franco and I were extremely impressed by the highly technical and advanced operations in use by growers and packers in the region, but we were equally delighted by the extremely high-quality fruits and vegetables produced there," said Mr. Fleming. "The producers we met and spoke with are highly dedicated in their efforts to deliver the highest quality and freshest produce possible."
The Basilicata growers are fully attentive to all aspects of producing and delivering the highest-quality products, including maintaining cold chain movement, appropriate food-safety practices and advanced packing techniques. Mr. Alimondi said that these growers hold an advantage for the American market because they pick, trim, pack and typically even ship on the same day, meaning products can reach their U.S. distributors' doors within two days.
Although the International delegation was headquartered in Scanzano Jonico, farm and facility tours took participants to several adjacent communities. The district of Metapontino is located along the Jonica and Metapontina belt, in the "sole" of the Italian peninsula. The group visited several of its 12 communities, including Rotondella, Policaro and Montescaglioso. The fresh fruit and vegetable industry occupies the greatest portion of the land in the region, covering an area of approximately 28,000 hectares (69,190 acres) and representing approximately 50 percent of the gross marketable production. Primary crops are peaches, apricots, plums, strawberries, oranges, clementines, table grapes, cauliflower, fennel, lettuce, asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, kiwifruit and peppers.
The farming practices employed by the region's growers stem back to the Graecia period (the fourth and third centuries B.C.), traces of which are still found in the region. The Heraclea tablets, which are the oldest documents on rational land management that maintain agro-environmental ecosystem with high respect and dedication, were discovered in the region.
But all work and no play can diminish the pleasures to be enjoyed even on such an interesting and exciting venture as this one. The organizers and representatives knew this, and made sure that each day was filled with pleasurable (often over-abundant) meals of wonderful cuisine, wine and entertainment. They even worked visits to museums, archeological sites, including the Temple of Tavole Palatine, and a tour of the hilltop city of Sassi. Nearly one full day featured a presentation to foreign delegates and an exhibit where numerous produce, wine and processed food producers displayed their products and were on hand to describe their operations and answer questions.
The event wrapped up on the last evening at the Le Botteghe restaurant in the heart of Sassi, where hosts thanked their guests for participating in the event and expressed their desire to engage in commerce that is long-lasting and beneficial to all countries involved.
Messrs. Fleming and Alimondi of Strube not only enjoyed the experience, the new friendships they formed and learning about the many possibilities that Basilicata producers have to offer, they also had another very special opportunity immediately following the trip.
Mr. Alimondi was born in Calabria, only a short distance away from Scanzano Jonico. His father and other family members still reside there, so he and Mr. Fleming had the added pleasure of visiting his family for a couple of days before they headed back to Chicago.
The workshop and mission were a collaborative effort stemming from the 2004 formation of the Institute of International Commerce for the Region of Basilicata and the Institute of International Commerce. Its purpose was to introduce quality products produced in the district of Metapontino (a specific region in Basilicata) to foreign markets. ICE, the District of Metapontino, the Region of Basilicata and the Italian (National) Institute of International Commerce for the Puglia and Basilicata regions hosted the program The delegation was based in Scanzano Jonico for the five-day event, but it toured surrounding areas and saw the many products produced in the region.
Tim (TJ) Fleming Jr. and Franco Alimondi, produce buyers for Strube Celery & Vegetable Co. in Chicago, were among the participants in the delegation. "Franco and I were extremely impressed by the highly technical and advanced operations in use by growers and packers in the region, but we were equally delighted by the extremely high-quality fruits and vegetables produced there," said Mr. Fleming. "The producers we met and spoke with are highly dedicated in their efforts to deliver the highest quality and freshest produce possible."
The Basilicata growers are fully attentive to all aspects of producing and delivering the highest-quality products, including maintaining cold chain movement, appropriate food-safety practices and advanced packing techniques. Mr. Alimondi said that these growers hold an advantage for the American market because they pick, trim, pack and typically even ship on the same day, meaning products can reach their U.S. distributors' doors within two days.
Although the International delegation was headquartered in Scanzano Jonico, farm and facility tours took participants to several adjacent communities. The district of Metapontino is located along the Jonica and Metapontina belt, in the "sole" of the Italian peninsula. The group visited several of its 12 communities, including Rotondella, Policaro and Montescaglioso. The fresh fruit and vegetable industry occupies the greatest portion of the land in the region, covering an area of approximately 28,000 hectares (69,190 acres) and representing approximately 50 percent of the gross marketable production. Primary crops are peaches, apricots, plums, strawberries, oranges, clementines, table grapes, cauliflower, fennel, lettuce, asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, kiwifruit and peppers.
The farming practices employed by the region's growers stem back to the Graecia period (the fourth and third centuries B.C.), traces of which are still found in the region. The Heraclea tablets, which are the oldest documents on rational land management that maintain agro-environmental ecosystem with high respect and dedication, were discovered in the region.
But all work and no play can diminish the pleasures to be enjoyed even on such an interesting and exciting venture as this one. The organizers and representatives knew this, and made sure that each day was filled with pleasurable (often over-abundant) meals of wonderful cuisine, wine and entertainment. They even worked visits to museums, archeological sites, including the Temple of Tavole Palatine, and a tour of the hilltop city of Sassi. Nearly one full day featured a presentation to foreign delegates and an exhibit where numerous produce, wine and processed food producers displayed their products and were on hand to describe their operations and answer questions.
The event wrapped up on the last evening at the Le Botteghe restaurant in the heart of Sassi, where hosts thanked their guests for participating in the event and expressed their desire to engage in commerce that is long-lasting and beneficial to all countries involved.
Messrs. Fleming and Alimondi of Strube not only enjoyed the experience, the new friendships they formed and learning about the many possibilities that Basilicata producers have to offer, they also had another very special opportunity immediately following the trip.
Mr. Alimondi was born in Calabria, only a short distance away from Scanzano Jonico. His father and other family members still reside there, so he and Mr. Fleming had the added pleasure of visiting his family for a couple of days before they headed back to Chicago.
