Robots at the ready as supplier targets growth in stonefruit and pears

Agrintesa, one of Italy’s largest fresh produce suppliers, has installed a brand new, highly automated packing line as it looks to capitalise on demand for premium-grade fruit across Europe.

The cooperative, which is a major supplier to supermarkets across the continent, says an extensive refit of its Bagnacavallo facility near Ravenna will enable it to handle and pack delicate, high-end products including premium pears and flat peaches and nectarines.

“Peaches, nectarines and pears require highly specialised supply chains,” explains Agrintesa’s general manager, Cristian Moretti.

Recent investment in new and better varieties has put packing facilities under pressure to be far more advanced, he says.

Agrintesa’s member growers recently planted around 200ha of a branded flat nectarine called Ondine. And it’s a product that requires careful, expert handling.

“This project is due for completion in 2025,” Moretti reveals. “At its peak, production is estimated at approximately 6000 tonnes, and this will be managed at our Bagnacavallo plant.”

The installation is designed to boost efficiency and flexibility, and to reduce the need for manual labour. It will apparently be able to check and pack thousands of individual fruits per every hour, and deliver guaranteed top quality for customers.

Brand new tech

In partnership with technology provider Unitec, Agrintesa says the facility is now equipped with the best technologies available on the market today.

These include a robotic bin and crate loading system that prevents damage to delicate, newly arrived fruits by depositing them into water channels, which carry them on to the next stage of handling.

Other advanced systems at the new plant include a Unical 10.0 sorter, Unitec’s Peach Vision and Pear Vision external and internal grading machines, automatic crate fillers that can select predetermined fruit sizes, and three different types of packaging system.

“I believe the collaboration between Unitec and Agrintesa has created an innovative, winning project,” comments Raffaele Benedetti, sales manager at Unitec. “It’s a versatile plant that guarantees high efficiency and reliable classification of external and internal quality. And it is able to process products such as flat peaches and pears, which have very different characteristics and are extremely delicate, all year round.”

Agrintesa’s fruit is marketed by its commerical partner Alegra, which supplies major retail customers in Italy and abroad.

According to Enrico Bucchi, Alegra’s sales manager for Italy, last year’s consumer trials of Ondine showed great promise.

“The 2024 peach and nectarine campaign is in full swing, and we can count on good product availability and high quality,” he says. “In recent weeks, we have seen the start of the first commercial campaign for Ondine flat nectarines after last year’s tests. They’re crunchy, juicy and fragrant, and they are increasingly making inroads into the hearts of consumers.”

As one of just a few approved production partners across the globe, Agrintesa’s investment in Ondine is based on a strategy that offers clients premium-quality fruit. And the new plant in Bagnacavallo is set to be a key tool in delivering that quality.