The roots of Sicilian mango and avocado grown on the slopes of Etna.
Contrary to popular belief, the cultivation of mango and avocado in Sicily
is neither a recent trend nor a direct effect of climate change.
The history of Sicilian tropical fruit farming has its roots in the last century. The
first experimental cultivations date back to a period between the late 1950s and late 1960s.
During those years, along the coastal strip between Acireale and Fiumefreddo,
the first avocado and mango trials began, thanks to the visionary work of Dr.
Francesco Russo, a researcher at the Experimental Citrus Station of Acireale – CREA, and the unforgettable Professor Giovanni Continella,
professor of General Arboriculture at the University of Catania.
They introduced plant material from the Americas to Sicily and initiated a path of study and experimentation that laid the foundations for modern Sicilian tropical fruit farming.
What is now recognized as the "capital of Sicilian tropical fruit" is therefore not the result of recent improvisation,
but the outcome of over sixty years of agronomic research, passion for the land, and courageous insights.
Sicilia Avocado is the concrete evolution of that history. An agricultural project born to cultivate, innovate, and connect.
And it continues to grow every day, along with those who choose to bring home the best and genuine fruits of Southern Italy's tropical produce.