The production process stems from the choice of varieties, the sowing and all those operations carried out at our member farms to maintain the most suitable product for subsequent storage. Only the best product will be processed: once the collection has been authorized, it is quickly cooled to preserve its quality and organoleptic characteristics, transported to the packaging warehouse, evaluated and approved by the quality control in acceptance and then sent to the actual processing.

These processes include a sorting that can be carried out both by specialized operators and by machines that photograph each single leaf to evaluate the chlorophyll content and the color.

This is followed by the phase of the water washing, through tanks placed in series in order to eliminate all soil residues. In the packaging process, every single bag is checked for weight, absence of metallic foreign bodies and sealing.

Thanks to all these systems, less than 24 hours pass between collection and shipment.

Thanks to traceability, it is possible to trace and identify any aspect and passage linked to a single product to ensure its recognition throughout the supply chain and the production process, from the sowing to the bag.

In our case, the farm and the production plant belong to the same cooperative, creating a very short supply chain with just two actors involved. This translates into a very fast work dynamic and a product that is always fresh and controlled on all production aspects.

Fresh cut salads are produced within the farm to ensure quality and shelf life. A whole series of good agricultural practices must be implemented in the countryside, from the choice of seed, to the type of irrigation water, from fertilization to staff training, in order to increase the quality of the raw material.

To guarantee the freshness and quality of our salads, OrtoRomi adheres to some voluntary process and product certifications: amongst them, we highlight the one for the integrated pest management and the ISO 22005 for traceability of the supply chain.

The integrated pest management is a cultivation technique which requires that all agronomic interventions must be weighted according to specific technical evaluations before being implemented.

For example, fertilization should not be done as usual, according to established doses, but should be evaluated considering the contributions of the previous crop, the post-harvest, climatic trends, the fertilizer type, etc.

We adopt important cultural innovations that are sustainable for the environment. We practice sustainable agriculture techniques such as integrated pest management and green manure to better respect the environment. The integrated pest management is a cultivation technique which requires that all agronomic interventions must be weighted according to specific technical evaluations before being implemented.

For example, fertilization is not carried out as usual, according to pre-established doses, but it's evaluated considering the contributions of the previous crop, the post-harvest, climatic trends, etc. To protect the salads, some natural treatments are also allowed, using products such as propolis and horsetail to strengthen their defenses, or organic fertilizer such as pellets and/or compost.

The daily evaluation of agronomic technicians is the first fundamental element of integrated pest management. We also use green manure which is an agronomic practice carried out in the greenhouse, which allows the soil to rest and rebalance the organic substances for a better yield of the salads. How? Between one crop and another, some specific crops able to return nitrogen to the soil through their roots are sown to improve soil fertility.

Furthermore, any vegetable waste produced during the processing phase is transformed into biogas, a renewable energy source.