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The Sorrento Lemon PGI supply chain includes businesses committed to promoting a unique product that represents a land of excellence: the Sorrento Peninsula.
One of the protagonists of this story is Mariano Valentino Vinaccia.
After a career as a Long Course Captain, his attachment to his homeland, and in particular to the fruit that best represents it—the Sorrento Lemon—led him to dedicate himself completely and with great passion to promoting this local agricultural product.
He achieved PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition, which requires strict regulations defining the fruit's characteristics and cultivation methods.
Thanks to his enthusiasm and resourcefulness, he managed to involve a significant number of farmers, all specialized in growing Sorrento Lemons, and founded the Solagri Cooperative, whose name means "Sun and Agriculture."
Solagri's work is emblematic of the entire supply chain, from cultivation to the point of sale.
Farmers cultivate lemons with full respect for traditional techniques, combined with the most modern methods, thanks also to the support of experienced agronomists.
The fruit is expertly harvested by hand, avoiding contact with the soil.
Once harvested, they are transported, taking all necessary precautions to prevent deterioration during transit.
On site, the lemons are inspected by expert eyes and hands, sorting them by size, discarding any that are damaged.
Fresh lemons destined for sale are packaged in special 8 kg crates or "vertbags." (Vertbags are continuous nets that allow for high-speed, automated production; the bags are heat-sealed. The film covering the net is printed with customized graphics.)
Thanks to the availability of our own vehicles, the crates and vertbags are sent to the various points of sale.
TRANSFORMATION
The Solagri Cooperative offers a range of products derived from lemon processing, both for the general public and for B2B customers.
The Marmalade
The Sorrento PGI Lemon Jam is completely natural, made without additives or preservatives, using only lemons and sugar.
The Seasoning
Thanks to the numerous olive groves on the Sorrento Peninsula, Solagri prepares a special condiment made with Lemon Essential Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
The Essential Oil
The Sorrento PGI Lemon Essential Oil is a highly prized product. It is cold-extracted from lemon peel and possesses numerous properties that allow it to be used in both the food and cosmetics industries.
B2B CLIENTELE
The Solagri Cooperative offers a range of products intended for professional customers. These frozen products are packaged according to the needs of the business market.
Lemon Juice
During the processing, lemons are processed to extract the juice and, at the same time, obtain the peels. The juice is frozen and used in confectionery preparations, such as ice cream and granitas.
Peel
The peels, completely untreated and edible, are used, for example, in the preparation of the famous "Limoncello" liqueur.
Lemon Scorzoni
"Lemon scorzoni" are the peels of lemons, both the outer yellow part (zest) and the white part (pith). They can be used in cooking to flavor desserts, candied fruit, or to prepare liqueurs such as limoncello. The peels, especially the outer part, are rich in essential oils and have an intense and aromatic flavor.
SOLAGRI AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Solagri, following Mariano Valentino Vinaccia's environmentally responsible philosophy, is committed to recovering production waste, which is then sent to companies specializing in alternative energy production.
HISTORY
The Solagri Cooperative was founded in 1994 thanks to the initiative and dedication to his land of Mariano Valentino Vinaccia, a young farmer and former sea captain, determined to save the Sorrento Lemon from extinction.
He wanted to revive its cultivation, which had been rendered uneconomical for decades by the lack of appropriate marketing strategies and adequate promotion policies.
Today, the Solagri Cooperative comprises over 300 farms, and Mariano Valentino Vinaccia is its President.
Since 2000, thanks to Solagri's commitment, the "Oval Sorrento Lemon" has been awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the European Community, meaning that the "Oval Lemon" is exclusively produced on the Sorrento Peninsula and the Island of Capri.
Solagri carefully selects and packages its lemons and distributes them to quality-conscious domestic and international markets.
Solagri's exceptional product quality and ability to bring it to consumers' tables while preserving its freshness, goodness, aroma, fragrance, and flavor are the cornerstones of a cooperative that prioritizes promoting the local area and its products. Enjoying a Solagri jam or a slice of bread with a drizzle of our oil means rediscovering, and for many, experiencing for the first time, ancient, simple flavors. The Cooperative's products are for everyone, and for all tastes, and even those who aren't gourmet experts recognize them immediately. Healthy, authentic products suitable for everyone!
Solagri produces approximately 23,000 quintals of lemons, 200 quintals of oil, and 100,000 quintals of jams each year.
Solagri distributes its oval Sorrento lemons primarily to Northern Italian markets.
The DOP oil, condiments, and jams, however, have a different distribution network: we directly supply restaurants, hotels, and high-quality specialty shops both in Italy and around the world: our best customers are located in the United States, France, and Japan.
The Sorrento PGI oval lemon, an extraordinary fruit, is now produced almost exclusively by Solagri member companies. Therefore, we can say that there is no Sorrento PGI oval lemon that isn't Solagri.
As for the jams, they are completely free of colorings and preservatives and are made using over 85% freshly picked fruit.
Finally, the oils are DOP certified.
Buying a Solagri product means, first of all, purchasing a certified quality product and, above all, one that is not chemically treated.
The Solagri Cooperative markets the "Oval Lemon," a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) recognized by the European Community, produced on its member farms in Sorrento, the Sorrento Peninsula, and the island of Capri.
Solagri works to restore the traditional cultivation techniques of Sorrento's gardens, avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, to restore the biological balance of the plants. This way, this fruit, so essential to the diet and with its irresistible flavor, is revitalized.
In addition to lemons, Solagri also works to promote the ancient cultivation of Sorrento oranges, another extraordinary fruit, known and appreciated on global markets for over two centuries. Solagri is also aware that its commitment not only invigorates the agricultural sector, but also makes a significant contribution to the tourism industry.
First and foremost, because its traditional, certified-quality products reinforce the image of excellence of Sorrento and the entire Sorrento Peninsula, both in Italy and abroad. Second, because Solagri members, by cultivating their farms, are true custodians of the landscape—the same landscape for which Sorrento is famous worldwide.
Solagri and the Protection of the Sorrento PGI Lemon
Solagri intends to continue promoting the Sorrento Lemon production area using every means possible. It believes that active and productive protection, respectful of ancient cultivation techniques, guarantees the protection of the agricultural and natural landscape. Protecting the landscape was one of the objectives of Solagri's founding.
Finally, it is undeniable that much of the tourist appeal of the Sorrento Peninsula and the island of Capri is based on the care and attention paid to the agricultural and natural landscape, just as the contribution and stimulus that the recovery of original, high-quality local products provides to gastronomy and, therefore, to the restaurant industry.
Solagri's flagship product is the "Oval Sorrento Lemon PGI."
The flavor of lemon is ancient and common to many populations around the world. This fruit has countless uses, from lemon-seasoned fish to vegetables, fruit salads, rice, and even its use in pastry making and ice cream. Sorrento's oval lemons are particularly aromatic and fragrant, enhancing every dish and enhancing its flavor. Lemon cultivation on the Sorrento Peninsula has a millennia-old history. A cultivar named after the area has spread here: the "Femminello comune ovale di Sorrento," a citron-yellow lemon with a medium-thick peel, rich in essential oils, a strong, intense aroma, and generous juice.
