Organic Citrus Markets in Sicily

While in Sicily, our group was able to go on a tour of a citrus farm. Family owned and ran; this farm’s produce spanned the range of citrus products including various orange, lemon and grapefruit types. The only citrus fruit not at the farm was the lime (which, according to the farmers, is generally produced in South America). Once at the farm, we were taken on a tour of the property and were able to sample fruit as we went along. Not only were we given fruit by the famers but we were also given the opportunity to pick some of the oranges directly

off of the tree. I have never tasted an orange as delicious as the one that I picked myself. It was easy to peel, juicy and delicious. I wish I could stay there and eat oranges every day!

During our tour, one of the farmers mentioned how rare it is for inspectors to check on the farm and make sure the farm is up to code on organic farming procedures. This comment made me wonder if organic produce really is organic or if it is the same fruit as the non-organic fruit, just marketed with a different label in order to have product differentiation from competitors. Organic fruit not only has a higher price tag than other fruit but it also has a shorter shelf life. In order for produce to be labeled as organic, farmers must adhere to strict farming r

egulations. Pesticides cannot be used on the produce, only natural materials such as compost and manure can be used (the farm we visited used pigs to eat the fruit with defects and for fertilization of the trees). Organic produce farms generally do not produce as high of an output as non organic farms and usually their costs are higher as well. The increase in cost is shown by an increase in the price of the fruit. If the fruit that is being marketed as organic is actually non organic food, then consumers are wasting their money on misrepresented products. The farm we visited

assured our group that even though their farm is not usually monitored, they still follow the protocol for producing organic produce.