The concept is to offer not only edible flowers and edible organic products, but also an entire plant that will reproduce itself if handled with appropriate care. This will maximize the plant's freshness at the time of harvest, without the need of further packaging. The concept of organic edible flowers in pots was launched for the first time on a commercial level on Friday 7 September 2018 in occasion of the "International Exhibition of Organic and Natural (Sana)" and it was immediately a huge success.
Tito Livio, one of the owners of Li.Pa. Piantine said, "The unexpected success of this concept was already reached during the first hours of the fair. The seedlings are developed on a seasonal basis. The queen of this winter will be the violet, followed by the primrose. In spring the snapdragon, the carnation and the New Guinea Impatiens will be made available, among many others. The prospects are excellent, especially after this year's important production".
Stefano Gaia, Tito Livio and Davide Paiato, owners of LiPa Piantine.
"Tasting a flower of snapdragon is just like eating radicchio from Chioggia, as the dianthus species is perhaps the sweetest of all while the flowers of New Guinea have a slightly sour aftertaste. Eating a violet is like tasting a leaf of salad that releases the scent of the flower in the field: an experience of extraordinary flavor and fragrance", explains Tito Livio.
Edible potted flowers are designed for both the domestic and foreign markets. As of now, the main targets are the specialized shops.
As far as the packaging is concerned, we are working on its design so that it can best convey that the product is organic. Tito Livio anticipates that they are currently experimenting with the use of biodegradable papers and ad hoc inks. "The same PET plastic that we use for the pot could be further developed. In this case, the issue of using a biodegradable container is that it does not guarantee two to three months of cultivation, but we do not despair and are currently searching for an adequate solution ".
The company LiPa Piantine was founded in 1994 by two young boys, Tito Livio and Davide Paiatto, almost as a joke. At present, they must be satisfied of having constantly increased the production while expanding its structures.
He concludes with stating: "Our motto is more quality, more variety, more service. Everything we do is carried out in a meticulous manner, with commitment, passion and humility. However, the relationship with our customers is the most important aspect. Currently we have two production sites, which in total have an area of 25,000 square meters. A portion of the area features an outdoor nursery and fully heated greenhouses. In 2015 we installed the biomass plant to heat up the structures, which allows for a significant reduction of polluting emissions into the atmosphere".
In 2016 the company announced the start of organic production of certified horticultural plants, having obtained the certification of Bio ITBO005XPROTECTED conformity through the BIOS Certification Body. This allowed to increase environmental sustainability as well as customer demand. In this way, LiPa Piantine has demonstrated of making considerable efforts in trying to reduce pollution of land and groundwater, embracing the concept of healthy eating. In the same year, an internal telematic system to ensure real-time traceability of all productions was installed.
Contact:
Tito Livio and Paiatto Davide
LiPa Piantine
Via G. Leopardi, 317
37043 Menà di Castagnaro (VR)
Tel.: +39 (0)442 96206
Email: info@lipapiantine.it
Website: www.lipapiantine.it