In the heart of the Sicilian countryside, surrounded by fields and greenhouses, lies the secret of one of the most popular products on the consumer tables - tomatoes. People often only talk about prices and production characteristics, without giving credit to those who work hard every day to make sure that the chain is supplied.
© Gaetano Piccione | HortiDaily.comSimonelli farm. Left to right: Pietro Simonelli, Valentino Lo Monaco and Giuseppe Simonelli. (Click here to see the photo gallery of Orto Dirillo's partner companies)
"We wanted to take a little tour of the producers and suppliers who support us with their commitment," explains Valentino Lo Monaco of Orto Dirillo. "For years, we have been selecting only the best tomatoes to offer our customers a genuine product with an authentic taste. The route is a tribute to small local producers, i.e., the true custodians of an ancient and modern knowledge."
© Gaetano Piccione | HortiDaily.comEntrance to the Orto Dirillo warehouse
Core business: Cherry tomatoes
"We made different stops on our mini tour," adds Lo Monaco, Gianni Iachella's partner in the Orto Dirillo enterprise, "and they are almost always family-run farms where respect for the land and sustainability are fundamental principles, also because they have to comply with the criteria set out by the big retail chains. Cherry tomatoes, our core business, are cultivated using integrated pest management methods and irrigated using systems to minimise water waste. Sometimes our growers cultivate in traditional greenhouses, sometimes in technological greenhouses that allow the constant monitoring of temperature, humidity, and nutrients, thereby guaranteeing perfect tomatoes in every season. But the real magic lies in the expert hands of those who work the land every day. In fact, we are always open to new collaborations."
© Gaetano Piccione | HortiDaily.comValentino Lo Monaco and Gino Puccia of Box 29 'Il Quadrifoglio'.
Current commercial moment
"Tomatoes are selling fairly well at the moment. The prices are not brilliant, but not bad either. Cherry tomatoes range between €1.30 and €1.50/kg. Piccadilly has a base of €1.00/kg; red plum tomatoes range between €1.50 and €2.00/kg. Everything is more or less within the norm. What is going up are yellow plum tomatoes instead, which are reaching peaks of €3.00/kg after disastrous months characterised by prices below production costs."
© Gaetano Piccione | HortiDaily.comCherry tomatoes. (Click here to see the photo album of Orto Dirillo's partner companies)
"Sometimes the dynamics of fruit and vegetable marketing require us to collect from producers through wholesalers with whom we have established relationships of trust. We participate in the decision-making process and indicate the strategies to be observed during the campaign. We are also often present with periodic visits for liaison and control. We always advise the farms to scrupulously observe the regulations dictated by law in terms of residues and sustainability. Anyway, our partners have earned our trust over time, just as we have earned theirs as part of an equal, transparent relationship of absolute professional and human fairness. Our main reference companies are:
- Box 29 Il Quadrifoglio
- Box 14 La Sorgente
- Box 51 Verde Sud
- Azienda AgricolaF.lli Simonelli
- Azienda Agricola Terranova
- Azienda Agricola F.lli Ballone
- Azienda Agricola F.lli Scuzzarello
- Azienda Agricola Piccieri
- Azienda Agricola Cassarino
- Azienda Agricola F.lli Cappello
"We wanted to share the beauty of our work but, above all, to thank those who produce with ethics and passion. Every producer and every single one of their tomatoes tells a story of commitment and a different and unique human dimension at the same time."
The Orto Dirillo company will attend Macfrut 2025 from 6 to 8 May at the Regione Siciliana stand.
For more information: 
Orto Dirillo Srl
Vittoria (RG) - ITALY
+39 3349750025
ortodirillosrl@libero.it