Technical visit

Citrus processing facility

The company ORANFRIZER was founded in 1962 by Cav. Giuseppe Alba. Initially deliveries were to the main fruit markets in the north of Italy.Then, in 1968 the first important change: Oranfrizer foresaw the potentiality of GDO (Grande Distribuzione Organizzata – Great Organized Distribution) and decided to move into this sector. The choice was a winner and since then growth has been constant and it is now a leader in Sicily. In 1986 a new production plant was opened. Two years later the 110 ha – Carmito farm was purchased. In the meantime the second generation of the Alba family, the brothers Sebastiano and Alessandro Alba, took over the management of the firm and further developed it. In 1991 a second plant went into production. In 1995 Oranfrizer decided to go into the fresh fruit-juice market. In 2001 a very modern plant for the processing of fruit and vegetables was opened in Scordia, while in 2004 the production of fruit juice was transferred to Barcellona (ME). At the moment the Oranfrizer group employs about 100 people and is engaged in further development, above all in overseas markets.

Production areas

Citrus fruit growing is particularly developed round the Mediterranean, with its sub-tropical climate, characterized by temperatures from 0° C to 35°C, autumn and winter rainfall and hot summers. The best-known Sicilian oranges are certainly blood oranges, famous for their unique taste and nutritional value. Sicily is the only place in the world where blood oranges grow well and for this reason it is the world’s leading producer.The Washington Navel, grown round Ribera, is also noteworthy.The Late tangerine of Ciaculli, in the province of Palermo, is picked at the end of winter and is particularly sweet-scented and tasty.

Traceability

Fresh product quality can be guaranteed only establishing very narrow relations with the farms that grow the crop. Oranfrizer has been creating since the 80’s a very strong relationship with the territory to achieve a certified product.

The characteristics that associate the farms producing our fruit are:

origin from suitable cultivation areas
integrated production
steady controls in the field

Suitable cultivation areas are those geographical areas where the plant grows better and therefore doesn't need to be submitted to heavy chemical treatments, so that fruit is of higher quality with regards to organoleptic characteristics. The integrated production is a particular cultivation method, internationally defined, whose aim is to protect healthcare, environment and product quality.

The farmer who uses this cultivation method performs chemical treatments:

only if really necessary;
at the right time (when the pest is more susceptible);
with low impact products;
reducing the contemporary presence of different pesticide residues;
with more restrictive limits compared to those established by law;
excluding from the cultivation all carcinogenic substances.

To obtain these results, Oranfrizer, in collaboration with its own farms on the territory:

plans and controls the production in the field;
plans the production methods;
records all field activities (agronomic and phytosanitary)
checks the presence of residues and the organoleptic characteristics;
checks shelf life (good quality of the packaged product)

Quality control

Oranfrizer quality system overcomes law imposition that fixes chemical residue limit for the consumer’s health. The quality control staff performs the tests before the product reaches the fruit packing warehouse. The tests are conducted on the fruit, before maturation and before it is picked up, on the plant and on the soil. To fulfil all these requirements and to succeed in checking product quality, Oranfrizer has its own laboratory available where various types of controls are performed on the product in the field, on the delivered product and on the processed product.

Origin control

On Oranfrizer packages it is possible to find an identification product label with a code of traceability preceded by the letter "L". Typing this code on the “freshcom” website, the farms that are present in that commercial plot, will be visualized. Clicking on “details” information about the selected farm will be displayed. The location of the farms is also shown on a map together with a list of quality control tests and analyses performed following Oranfrizer guidelines.

Packaging

Oranfrizer packaging process starts in the field. Once that the farm is accepted as supplier, the quality control technician indentifies the best harvest time and communicates it to the processing staff that will fix the harvest planning. The product is always identified before arriving in the warehouse. Every supply is checked and labeled univocally beginning the traceability of the packaging process. From this point on, every activity (washing, selection, warehousing, packaging, quality control) to which fruit is submitted will be recorded.

Also the logistics (orders, packaging, delivery) is totally automated and assisted by electronic label readers that identify the various batches of product.

All this automation doesn’t not however reduce the traditional care for the product on which experts regularly perform quality control tets to maintain high quality standards.

	TECHNICAL EXCURSION
	Citrus processing facility The company ORANFRIZER was founded in 1962 by Cav. Giuseppe Alba. Initially deliveries were to the main fruit markets in the north of Italy.Then, in 1968 the first important change: Oranfrizer foresaw the potentiality of GDO (Grande Distribuzione Organizzata – Great Organized Distribution) and decided to move into this sector. The choice was a winner and since then growth has been constant and it is now a leader in Sicily. In 1986 a new production plant was opened. Two years later the 110 ha – Carmito farm was purchased. In the meantime the second generation of the Alba family, the brothers Sebastiano and Alessandro Alba, took over the management of the firm and further developed it. In 1991 a second plant went into production. In 1995 Oranfrizer decided to go into the fresh fruit-juice market. In 2001 a very modern plant for the processing of fruit and vegetables was opened in Scordia, while in 2004 the production of fruit juice was transferred to Barcellona (ME). At the moment the Oranfrizer group employs about 100 people and is engaged in further development, above all in overseas markets. Production areas Citrus fruit growing is particularly developed round the Mediterranean, with its sub-tropical climate, characterized by temperatures from 0° C to 35°C, autumn and winter rainfall and hot summers. The best-known Sicilian oranges are certainly blood oranges, famous for their unique taste and nutritional value. Sicily is the only place in the world where blood oranges grow well and for this reason it is the world’s leading producer.The Washington Navel, grown round Ribera, is also noteworthy.The Late tangerine of Ciaculli, in the province of Palermo, is picked at the end of winter and is particularly sweet-scented and tasty. Traceability Fresh product quality can be guaranteed only establishing very narrow relations with the farms that grow the crop. Oranfrizer has been creating since the 80’s a very strong relationship with the territory to achieve a certified product. The characteristics that associate the farms producing our fruit are: origin from suitable cultivation areas integrated production steady controls in the field Suitable cultivation areas are those geographical areas where the plant grows better and therefore doesn't need to be submitted to heavy chemical treatments, so that fruit is of higher quality with regards to organoleptic characteristics. The integrated production is a particular cultivation method, internationally defined, whose aim is to protect healthcare, environment and product quality. The farmer who uses this cultivation method performs chemical treatments: only if really necessary; at the right time (when the pest is more susceptible); with low impact products; reducing the contemporary presence of different pesticide residues; with more restrictive limits compared to those established by law; excluding from the cultivation all carcinogenic substances. To obtain these results, Oranfrizer, in collaboration with its own farms on the territory: plans and controls the production in the field; plans the production methods; records all field activities (agronomic and phytosanitary) checks the presence of residues and the organoleptic characteristics; checks shelf life (good quality of the packaged product) Quality control Oranfrizer quality system overcomes law imposition that fixes chemical residue limit for the consumer’s health. The quality control staff performs the tests before the product reaches the fruit packing warehouse. The tests are conducted on the fruit, before maturation and before it is picked up, on the plant and on the soil. To fulfil all these requirements and to succeed in checking product quality, Oranfrizer has its own laboratory available where various types of controls are performed on the product in the field, on the delivered product and on the processed product. Origin control On Oranfrizer packages it is possible to find an identification product label with a code of traceability preceded by the letter "L". Typing this code on the “freshcom” website, the farms that are present in that commercial plot, will be visualized. Clicking on “details” information about the selected farm will be displayed. The location of the farms is also shown on a map together with a list of quality control tests and analyses performed following Oranfrizer guidelines. Packaging Oranfrizer packaging process starts in the field. Once that the farm is accepted as supplier, the quality control technician indentifies the best harvest time and communicates it to the processing staff that will fix the harvest planning. The product is always identified before arriving in the warehouse. Every supply is checked and labeled univocally beginning the traceability of the packaging process. From this point on, every activity (washing, selection, warehousing, packaging, quality control) to which fruit is submitted will be recorded. Also the logistics (orders, packaging, delivery) is totally automated and assisted by electronic label readers that identify the various batches of product. All this automation doesn’t not however reduce the traditional care for the product on which experts regularly perform quality control tets to maintain high quality standards.