Sicily, fruit and vegetables range from avocados to citrus fruits
If there is one record on which Sicily excels, it is its fruit and vegetable production. In terms of quantity (data for the year 2024): its area cultivated with fruit and vegetables amounts to over 263 thousand hectares (22% of the national total), while its production recorded 4.6 million tonnes (19% of Italian fruit and vegetable production). And in terms of quality: first region in organic production with about 47 thousand cultivated hectares, equal to about a quarter of the national total.
If we turn to the data in value, the primacy emerges in all its strength for the approximately 3 billion euro (16% of the national value) that places it on the roof of Italia, thanks also to an important contribution of its PDO and PGI.
A record that was presented during the event 'Sicilian fruit and vegetable excellence: markets, value, identity', which followed the presentation of the 43rd edition of Macfrut, the international fruit and vegetable supply chain exhibition (in Rimini from 21 to 23 April 2026), which will see Sicily as a partner region.
From avocados to citrus fruits, via tomatoes, 'the Sicilian fruit and vegetable offer is distinguishing itself for its high capacity for innovation, also favoured by changing climatic conditions that allow the introduction and cultivation of tropical and subtropical species,' comments Mario Schiano of Ismea.
"Such a development allows farms to diversify their production calendar, realising counter-seasonal harvests and thus ensuring a continuous presence in national and international markets".
