Bio Sikelia

History

Bio Sikelia is a producer organisation, born in 2010, when some Sicilian farmers with many years of experience in organic production decided to join forces.

The aim of the organisation is to bring together the products of its members in a single association, promoting their sale on the Italian and foreign markets and ensuring that cultivation practices and organic production techniques and waste management practices are respected. All this is done with respect for the environment, thus preserving the quality of water, soil and landscape and promoting biodiversity.

Sikelia's organic products are certified 100% organic: the traceability system links each fruit or vegetable to the land of origin and the quality is guaranteed by periodic and very rigorous analyses.

Meeting

The farm we visited was created by the grandfather of Chiara, manager of Bio Sikelia, with whom we spent a few days. An agricultural engineer by training, she took over the business 12 years ago. She now works on 150 hectares and produces 10 to 12 references: several types of oranges, lemons, fennel, carrots, courgettes, mangoes, avocados, etc. We really felt a very caring relationship with the 90 employees of the organisation. They also employ 3 agronomists.

During the high season, they also employ many seasonal workers from North Africa, as Sicily has a severe labour shortage. To do this, they work with an association that manages the social aspects and the integration of the workers in the farms in Sicily.

The organisation takes care of the transport of the workers and also ensures that all working conditions have been respected. 

Zero waste optics

All vegetable waste is used for compost. All their leftovers are collected by the employees on Saturdays and by an association of the church, which then redispatches them to people who need them. Chiara wants to farm the way she wants to, without making concessions, for example by paying her workers more than the average in Sicily. The three days we spent with Chiara convinced us that people and nature are at the heart of everything she does. We are therefore proud to offer her products in our markets and invite you to meet her in her beautiful agriturismo Casa di Mello!