Excellence is born beneath Mount Etna: a journey into Sicilian Blood Oranges Pgi, beauty you can taste
by Giovanni Bosi, Catania / Sicily
When one thinks of Sicily, the most emblematic ambassador can only be the Sicilian Blood Orange Pgi—seductive, like the endless beauty of this Mediterranean island. It is born under the watchful presence of Mount Etna, the imposing volcano that today is even taller than the Marmolada after its most recent eruptions, and which grants the Plain of Catania a distinctive, unique, and unrepeatable microclimate. The history of this production stretches back centuries, and discovering it is like traveling through time, between tradition and innovation. It also means exploring the very heart of the hundreds of producers who every day place passion, determination, and resilience at the center of their work. We went to see for ourselves.
(TurismoItaliaNews) Getting to know the men and women of the Consortium for the Protection of Sicilian Blood Oranges Pgi truly opens the heart, the eyes, and the mind. It even helps clear away a number of overly simplistic and now outdated clichés. These are people who roll up their sleeves at dawn to bring the beauty of flavor to the world. And they do so with an approach that, while safeguarding tradition, also looks enthusiastically toward technology applied to agriculture. On closer inspection, artificial intelligence has been in use here on the island for quite some time already. And perhaps AI itself has found the perfect place to learn how to be trained properly.
To speak about these oranges, about the work of the Consortium, and about the people who animate it through their love for the land, one must inevitably speak about the emotions experienced while walking among the endless rows of citrus groves, with Mount Etna constantly in view. Loved and feared, the volcano is what ensures such excellence and so much work. It is a kind of circular economy, because thanks to the very special climatic conditions and the terroir, we are witnessing an absolute form of circularity: nothing of the orange is wasted; everything is used.
The Consortium: an irreplaceable role
Founded in 1994 at the initiative of local producers with the mission of promoting and protecting Sicilian Blood Oranges—in their three varieties Tarocco, Moro, and Sanguinello—the Consortium is today the leading standard-bearer of this beloved product worldwide. Backed by a small army of men and women who make it a protagonist, blood oranges are now enjoyed fresh, drunk as juice, used as ingredients in traditional products, or served in dishes created by skilled chefs. In this way, love for Sicily is constantly renewed and strengthened through Sicilian Blood Oranges Pgi —a love that is felt all over the world.
Special people behind the daily work
“From the very beginning, the growth of the Protection Consortium has been driven by the commitment of all its members,” explains President Gerardo Diana. “In 2015, we obtained ministerial recognition, which allows the Consortium to operate fully and in a structured way. Today we count around 500 associated farms, eighty packing facilities spread across the territory, and more than 300 authorized labels. Total turnover is approximately 40 million euros, generating over 30,000 workdays. This is therefore a product deeply rooted in its territory.” The 2024–2025 season closed with more than 26 million kilograms of Sicilian Blood Oranges Pgi placed on the market, including 3.1 million kilograms of organic product.
If Gerardo is the number one of the Consortium, alongside him stands an extraordinary team: vice presidents Elena Eloisa Albertini (representing producers) and Salvatore Scrofani (representing packers), as well as Lucia Fidelio and Salvatore Milluzzo, who manage consortium operations with expertise. And, of course, there are the hundreds of producers whose work quite literally shapes the landscape of the 32 municipalities across the provinces of Catania, Siracusa, and Enna. It is worth noting that in 2025 Sicilian Blood Oranges Pgi ranked third in Italy for value and production among GI-certified fruit and vegetable products, according to the latest Ismea–Qualivita report (up from fifth place in 2023). Certified PGI production grew by 8.4%, reaching a value of around 20 million euros (+11.8% compared to 2023).
The unique factor: Mount Etna
It is easy to say “oranges,” but these Pgi Blood Oranges are unique and unrepeatable in the Mediterranean basin. “Not only because producing Sicilian Blood Oranges PGI requires being in a very specific area,” stresses Gerardo Diana, “but also because our territory is defined by a unique element: Mount Etna. However, that alone is not enough. There has also been steady growth and strong determination on the part of farmers who, despite a severe disease affecting citrus groves, had the courage to start over from scratch, replanting with new rootstocks. Thanks to enormous efforts, today the plants are more resilient to climate change, and the harvest calendar is much longer than it was ten years ago. In the end, we can say we emerged stronger than before. This is an important message that, in my view, should come from Sicily. The South is often accused of fatalism and of failing to seize opportunities, but in our citrus farming the exact opposite has occurred: from hardship, our members have emerged stronger after overcoming truly dramatic moments.”
From the perspective of producers of excellence, there has been growing consumer attention toward quality products—greater interest and greater awareness. The Consortium therefore plays a fundamental role in protecting and enhancing the product. “Protection means carrying out constant checks: our inspectors verify that the product complies with the production specifications, which for us represent a kind of ‘Ten Commandments’ of production,” Diana explains. “This is something consumers truly appreciate. Dialogue with consumers is also essential—for example, explaining that the same tree can produce more or less red fruit depending on exposure. An orange growing on the north side of the tree, colder and facing Mount Etna, may be redder than one exposed to the south. Today it is not always easy to convey how much climate and environment influence an agricultural product, but what we can guarantee is that through controls, the product purchased always meets Pgi standards.”
Promotion and dialogue with people
Enhancement also means attending specialized trade fairs, promoting the product, and speaking with people. “When we receive a letter or an email raising doubts about a purchased product,” clarifies the Consortium president, “we respond by explaining what may have happened, intervening and engaging directly. Human relationships remain fundamental. Many of our members have also grown structurally, and today we reach all of Europe with a fruit that brings great satisfaction and is highly appreciated. Other producers use online and digital channels, which represent an additional way to be present, communicate, and grow. We do not want to adopt an insular mindset, nor limit ourselves to saying that ‘everything is beautiful here.’ While waiting for a physical bridge between the mainland and the island, we want to build intangible bridges made of daily communication, to tell people everything behind this fruit: the tree, the territory, and above all the faces of our members,” concludes Gerardo Diana.
Women and experience at the forefront
Elena Eloisa Albertini is the vice president representing producers. Her story goes back a long way, and her decision to become an orange producer stems from personal commitment. “Being a producer of Sicilian Blood Oranges,” she tells us enthusiastically, “means entering a world rooted in quality, where production follows strict requirements set out in the specifications. This allows the product to have a clear identity on the market, recognized not only nationally but also internationally. At the same time, there has been growth among consumers seeking quality and excellence, especially outside Italy. Italian consumers are already very aware of what they bring to the table, and this has been an important factor. We have also observed a significant increase in producers joining the Consortium, registering and thereby contributing to the growth of PGI-labeled production". Among the projects in the pipeline is one aimed at winning over younger consumers, as the product is currently consumed mainly by people aged between 45 and 60. To achieve this goal, the Consortium, the vice president recalls, has already launched awareness programs in schools. Looking ahead, work is underway to support entrepreneurial initiatives focused on enhancing and promoting both the product and the territory. These include an orange-based spirit scheduled for release by the end of the year, produced by Agrosan, already known for creating Etna Spritz made with Sicilian Blood Oranges Pgi.
Ultimately, when one speaks of Blood Oranges, one inevitably speaks of Sicily—and it could not be otherwise. When thinking of this splendid island, images of the island itself, the sea, summer, and holidays immediately come to mind… and then, right after, oranges. “I must say that consumers are increasingly attentive to the link between territory, food, and local production,” Elena concludes.
