La mia azienda ha origini lontanissime, ma vorrei legarla solo alle persone con cui ho condiviso le prime emozionanti raccolte delle olive e le prime serate davanti ai frantoi in attesa della molitura: mio nonno e mio padre. Coltivare oggi significa prima di tutto rispettare le leggi del mercato, ignorando le esigenze del mondo naturale. La mia produzione agricola non risponderà a logiche economic
he ma esclusivamente a logiche ambientali.
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My name is Francesco Gabriele, I'm an Italian farmer. My farm is located deep in the famous Sibari's plain, in Calabria, a sunny region in the South of Italy. You can find our main base in Cassano allo Ionio (CS) and our registered office in Villapiana (CS). I am mainly an olive grower, but among my cultures you could also find colors and scent of local citrus, another famous specialty of our region. We produce extra-virgin olive oil (85% Nocellara Messinese – 10% Frantoio – 5% Coratina), olives in brine (de-bittered using natural sea salt from Trapani and Paceco Sea Reserve) and clementines (cultivar: SRA89). My farm has a very long history, but I'd like to link it to two men in particular: my father and my grandfather. I shared with them my first exciting pickings and the long evenings in front of the oil-mill, waiting for the milling. Today, farming is all about following the Market rules, ignoring the vital needs of the natural world. THE PROJECT:
My farming will never stick to this blind economic logic but will pursue balance, health and a good relation with nature. This Farm, as required by our tradition, has been passed on to me by my family through generations, as well as love for nature and the responsibility that led me to choose a respectful kind of farming and a high products standard. Organic products have a higher cost of production compared with other kind of products and bacause of that people often prefer to buy fruits and vegetables much affordable but of lower quality instead. This is a major problem. Nevertheless, I've chosen to produce organic anyway because I think it's the right choice to take. The first rule is: to produce without been conditioned by economic rules and to use quality ingredients during every part of the transformation process. An example: de-bittering olive in brine using one of the best salts we have here in Italy: the natural sea salt from Trapani and Paceco Sea Reserve. The second rule is: to report excellence. Here starts the project “Origin: Italy”. I will allow cameras in my farm, to explain what's behind “my olive oil” and to answer questions of capital importance, about issues most people take for granted. Photos, videos and comics to explain to adults and children the whole life of my products, from their origin to your houses. In my opinion a proficient farmer is the one who is capable to mediate between men's needs and those of nature. This awareness guides every step of my production, that will be revealed inside this site, virtually giving to anyone the possibility to enter my farm and receive my welcome. Hope you'll enjoy it.
