A new professional has joined Agrimola. After years of experience as chief operating officer, engineer and production programmer for companies such as Cirio/Polenghi/De Rica, Del Monte, Star Alimentare, F.lli De Cecco, Coca Cola, Mario Marino is now the executive director at Agrimola, a European company that processes and commercializes chestnuts, boasting a percentage of exports of over 40%. The facility in Casalfiumanese (Bologna) processes over 10 thousand tons of fresh chestnuts every year. In addition, the company also produces semi-processed frozen fruit products for the industry: diced fruit and high-quality frozen pulp and puree with an eye to organic production. “For me, it is an important challenge to become part of this dynamic company. The success it has achieved in the frozen fruit and chestnuts sector on both the national and international markets is guaranteed by a family that is constantly focused on the growth of the group. Over the past few months, Agrimola has invested to improve the yields and quality of the finished products. For example, it has introduced a new aseptic system for fruit pulp and puree in tubes that guarantees excellent consistency and integrity. “Within the same system, we can obtain the same type of frozen product to meet various client needs. “Another important investment was that of a new apricot stoner which, thanks to an efficient feeding and cutting system, enables better yields and quality of the finished product. The product is then diced or sliced to complete the production cycle in a modern IQF freezer and packaged. A state-of-the-art optical sorter was also purchased and installed in an air-conditioned environment which, thanks to an advanced inspection and lighting system, eliminates color defects and foreign bodies to guarantee the final product and in line with HACCP guidelines. Investments also include a steam peach peeler with electronic supervision that guarantees a complete control of process parameters in order to optimize peeling quality (steam pressure, peeling/stopping time, etc.). “All systems have been made with 4.0 supervision, including the heating and refrigerated system, with the final objective of having an overall SW for monitoring, production and maintenance and for energy saving purposes as well.”
In the photo, destalking of organic strawberries
