The knowledge and capabilities developed are the result of twenty years of experience within this vegetable’s specific supply chain: from collaboration with seed companies in variety selection to working with distributor-clients in identifying processing techniques and methods to improve product presentation at points of sale and its practicality for the end consumer. The company, located in the province of Bologna, can guarantee the supply of green and white celery, with various processing options, 12 months a year. This is possible thanks to close collaboration with various agricultural companies distributed across different production areas in Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Puglia, Lazio) and in Spain (Murcia): Fortini Ortofrutticoli annually plans celery production covering approximately 70 hectares of land at supplier farms while maintaining internal production on owned land, also used for experimenting with new technologies and cultivation techniques.
The processing warehouse has been expanded and improved over the years to now occupy an area of 2,200 m2 divided into specific areas for storage (cold rooms and refrigerated environments), handling, processing, and product shipping. The staff and equipment allow the company to process an average of 200 quintals of raw product per day, totaling approximately 45,000 quintals of finished product in 2014.
New processing line for celery
Fortini Ortofrutticoli was also one of the first Italian companies to participate in developing vegetable processing lines, having installed the first celery processing line in the mid-90s. Over recent years, various technical and instrumental improvements have been made to the warehouse, culminating in the replacement of the entire celery processing line and the addition of two automatic taping machines bringing several improvements to the processing: compliance with high safety and comfort standards for line operators by reducing noise and featuring a configuration that facilitates and optimizes movements, greater effectiveness of cutting-washing-drying systems with the aim of increasing the shelf life of the finished product, better precision of the calibration system and preparation for installing an optical sorter (under development), lower energy consumption.
“The new configuration of the processing line with the addition of automatic taping machines, besides the technical advantages related to comfort and quality, ensures higher hourly productivity of the warehouse which, once fully operational, should increase by 10-15%. Consider that with the previous pedal system, an operator could tape about 1,300 celery stalks per hour, while with the automatic taping machine it reaches 2,000, with extremely limited effort for the operator,” states Sergio Fortini, company owner along with his brother Fabio, who continues: “Important structural modifications have also been planned to facilitate cleaning and maintenance operations, ensuring, as far as possible, the line’s functionality even in case of malfunctions and breakdowns of its parts.”
The primary destination for products is the main Italian retail chains, with whom there has been a twenty-year collaborative relationship and for whom specific productions are planned under private label, while, although less significant than a few years ago, part of the production is destined for the main fruit and vegetable markets in northern Italy.
Broccoli is also offered 12 months a year
In recent years, Fortini Ortofrutticoli has also expanded its experience and offering with another increasingly important product, broccoli: in this case too, product availability is 12 months a year thanks to planned supplies from Puglia and Spain, and as with celery, directly supervised by the company’s technical service.
Field production planning, flexibility, organization, and production capacity capable of meeting large-scale distribution needs represent the company’s main strengths, along with the undeniable experience gained over the years by owners Sergio and Fabio and their collaborators. Today, the engagement with initiatives and attention of young sons Simone and Alessandro, who are also involved in the company, further strengthens the company’s character and predisposition to dynamism and innovation.