PGI blood orange Pascal Giuliano Yumiko Momoi

Yumiko Momoi and Pascal Giuliano

Sicily’s blood oranges have been making further steps to raise interest in the Japanese market with a visit from the Japanese chapter of the International Institute of Coffee Tasters to a Sicilian orchard.

Yumiko Momoi, executive director of the Japanese IICT chapter, visited a PGI Consortium orchard in Syracuse on 25 November, the company said, accompanied by PGI vice president Pascal Giuliano.

Ms Momoi and the Japanese delegation was shown the production chain, including early pigmentation of the red-fleshed oranges.

The Japanese market has been a focus for Sicilian blood oranges for a number of years. Late last year, Sicilian fruit marketer Oranfrizer held a cocktail night in Tokyo to promote the use of the Italian region’s blood oranges.