Taste and use

That's what makes these Sicilian almonds so special:

• Taste: A salty aperitif with the typical mild-sweet taste of "Tuono" almonds at its core.
• Quality features: The almonds have a bite and are nice and crunchy. "Tuono" is the almond variety that contains the least oil. Careful roasting gives the almonds their top flavor.
• Use: The salted almonds from L'Arcolaio are a wonderful snack! Enjoy them as an aperitif with a glass of "Isolano" natural wine, for example.

Cultivation and ecology

This is how almonds are grown:

• Cultivation method: Organic farming. Carmelo Agosta from Azienda Cappello Rizzarello, Gino Linguanti and Salvatore Vassallo each run a diverse organic farm southwest of Siracusa in south-eastern Sicily together with their families. In addition to almond trees, they also cultivate carob, olive, lemon and orange trees. In addition to the existing almond trees of the "Tuono" variety, they are growing young trees to expand the area under cultivation. The trees are watered when necessary, but only during heat peaks and with a drip irrigation system to prevent water loss as far as possible. To counteract erosion, the soil is mulched in winter. The almonds are peeled at "Loman", a company run by two sisters that specializes in almonds, and taken to Siracusa for further processing.
• Producers: The L'Arcolaio cooperative has been working closely and trustingly with Cappello Rizzarello, Linguanti and Vassallo for a number of years. By processing almonds in Siracusa prison and growing herbs in the Monti Iblei, the L'Arcolaio cooperative is creating regular jobs in agriculture and food processing. The cooperative is thus breaking the vicious circle of organized crime in which many young people and migrants are trapped.

This is how the price is made up

The L'Arcolaio cooperative buys the almonds from the producers at a price of 8.50 euros per kilogram of unshelled almonds or 10 euros per kilogram of shelled almonds.

Cultivation & processing CHF 4.44

• Cultivation and harvesting: Cappello Rizzarello, Linguanti, Vassallo
• Processing: Loman SRL, Cooperativa L'Arcolaio

Transport & logistics CHF 2.95

• Export and logistics: Valdibella, Galliker
• Fees: Customs
• Quality assurance: SQTS laboratory
• Packaging: Zurich plant
• Shipping: Post

Procurement & distribution CHF 2.74

• Coordination, communication, online market: Crowd Container