Low-calorie product novelties at Cibus 2024

"We are working on a line of natural products that are processed from freshly harvested vegetables in order to meet the needs of consumers who are looking for tasty and low-calorie foods. At Cibus 2024 in Parma (Italy), we will present this new line of processed products made with water, vinegar, salt and lemon juice. The product is characterized by its crunchiness and the quality of the raw material. The cost is obviously low, precisely because each jar contains about 100 grams of oil per package," says Gianluca Manfredi, president of the La Cupa Agricultural Cooperative.

Gianluca Manfredi

"On the other hand, there are products that are still in the experimental phase. A line of ready-to-use sauces in traditional Mediterranean flavors and a line of fruit jams and marmalades, available in 212-gram sizes, handmade and in different flavors: orange, strawberry, apricot, fig and prickly pear."

"In an ever-changing market," explains Gianluca Manfredi, "even in the food sector we have to consider different aspects, especially those related to trends and changing consumer patterns. The pandemic has made consumers more sensitive to the relationship between food and wellness, so we must be committed to communicating the story behind the product culture. In this specific case, we are not only selling a jar of vegetables that embody the utmost care in their processing, but also an experience that conveys the tradition of our territory."

"We have conducted tests," says Gianluca Manfredi, "that have confirmed the goodness and crunchiness of the raw material in the processed products, which do not include the addition of extra virgin olive oil, which means a longer shelf life of about five years. The flavors are those of the peasant tradition of the Salento (Apulia) area: artichoke, chicory puntarelle, cauliflower and wild chicory."

The history of the company
The agricultural cooperative La Cupa is located in Scorrano (Puglia - Italy). For more than 40 years it has been growing a wide range of vegetables on its 100 hectares of land. The products are preserves, creams, pickles and dehydrated vegetables, available in different formats according to the commercial channels. The company has two processing lines, one for pickles and the other for olives. The flagship product is the long tomato, dried exclusively in the sun. It covers an area of 18,000 square meters. Other dehydrated vegetables that require a high degree of specialization are added to the product range.

The La Cupa Società Cooperativa Agricola is a fast-growing company throughout Italy with a 10% share of foreign sales: Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France and Austria.