Halaesa and the avocado’s successful venture in Sicily
Founded in 2022, the benefit corporation has established a production model across the provinces of Messina, Palermo and Syracuse, based on technology, regenerative agriculture and sound management. With the acquisition of a further 210 hectares, it now has a total agricultural footprint of around 300 hectares
Key points
Sicilian avocado production is moving from the experimental stage to organised large-scale production. Leading the way is Halaesa, an agricultural company founded in March 2022 and which became a benefit corporation in June 2024; with the acquisition of a further 210 hectares, it has expanded its landholding on the island to around 300 hectares.
The company was founded by a group with expertise in agriculture, sustainability and finance. Some of the founders had already gained over ten years’ experience in growing tropical fruits in Sicily. The first capital increase, supplemented by a bank loan, enabled the company to acquire and develop its first plots of land in Tusa, in the Messina area, and in Noto, in the Syracuse area.
One hundred hectares under cultivation, with the rest to follow by 2027
The 300 hectares refer to the land owned, not the land that is already fully productive. The completed plantations currently cover around 100 hectares, divided almost equally between Tusa and Noto. The 210 hectares acquired are spread across these areas and the Palermo region, and will be planted progressively by the end of 2027.
The business model combines soil selection, precision irrigation, digital monitoring and managerial process management. The first harvest, amounting to around 200 quintals, confirmed the estimates and was sold in its entirety on the Italian and European markets through distributors who supply large-scale retailers.
The product is not yet marketed under the Halaesa brand: plans for its launch under its own brand are being considered for between 2027 and 2028. Once fully operational, the expected yield is 130–140 quintals per hectare in the seventh year. The 300 hectares will gradually reach full production from 2029; the business plan targets 500 hectares by 2032 and revenues of between 23 and 25 million in the two-year period 2033–2034.
