L'Insalata dell'Orto focuses on sustainability with the Zero Residue Basket, promoting zero-residue fruit and vegetables for a greener future.
The Garden Salad, a leading company in the market of IV Range salads and edible flowers, closed 2023 with a turnover over 50 million euro, recording double-digit growth. The Veneto company, among the first to equip itself with a Sustainability Report, continues to invest in sustainability-related projects, including the “Zero Residue Basketi”, a network of companies committed to promoting certified zero-residue fruit and vegetable products. This certification, which guarantees the absence or minimal presence of chemical residues in products, is promoted with the aim of raising consumer awareness and offering a more sustainable and transparent range of fruit and vegetables.
Sarah Menin, product development manager of the company, presented this project during the convention for the 25th anniversary of Todis at Cinecittà World, Rome. L'Insalata dell'Orto, which supplies Todis with zero-residue ready-to-eat salads, manages 17 farms on 370 hectares, 270 of which are dedicated to organic cultivation. The company is engaged in the production of nine certified zero-residue products. Menin explained that sustainability is an integral part of the company's strategy, not just a slogan. The Zero Residue Basket project meets 13 of the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Producing at zero residue means reducing the use of agrochemicals and adopting agricultural techniques that require less water and less energy. In addition, the company makes extensive use of renewable energy, such as photovoltaic, contributing to the reduction of emissions and the fight against climate change. This production model also takes care of soil health and the protection of biodiversity, thanks to the use of low-impact chemical treatments.
The Zero Residue Basket involves several Italian farms that comply with a strict specification, and includes 14 families of products, from fruit to bagged salads. Menin stressed how the expansion of zero-residue production is beneficial for the environment and can generate economic benefits for farmers, improving the remuneration of agricultural work and enhancing the primary sector. However, he highlighted the importance of the role of big organised distribution (GDO) in supporting projects like this. A GDO sensitive to the issue of sustainability can in fact contribute to the success of the zero-residue model, creating dedicated spaces in points of sale where certified products are easily recognizable and accessible to consumers.
According to Menin, the future of sustainability is measurable and narratable. Providing consumers with the possibility of choosing products that respect the environment is an achievable goal, and the Zero Residue Basket project represents a concrete step in this direction. Concluding his speech, Menin reiterated how it is essential for large-scale retail trade and agricultural businesses to work together to raise awareness among consumers and promote asustainable agriculture, which guarantees high quality products, environmental protection and well-being for farmers.
