Agriculture
Remarkable is the production of cereals including wheat, especially in the most valuable variety of durum wheat, essential for the production of 'excellent quality pasta - which already made Sicily fundamental for the Romans (the island was in fact called the granary of Rome).
Olive oil is wide, which ensures an excellent production of oil.
Near Acireale and in the Catania Plain, it is important to cultivate citrus fruits: lemons, oranges, and mandarins, along with mandarins, bergamot, grapefruit and precious cedars, prickly pears and carob trees.
There are vegetables, which since the sixties have conquered more and more markets in the quality of greenhouse cultivation, are found mainly in the southeastern area, such as the famous Pachino tomatoes, or legumes like the lupine.
Among the dried fruits stand out for their hazelnuts, and almonds, pistachios - valuable those of Bronte - are finally the basis of many confectionery products typical of this land, such as chocolate, imported directly from America when Sicily was under the Spanish check. To this day Sicilian chocolate, especially that of Modica, is prepared according to ancient recipes and makes a particular use of exotic spices, giving it a unique taste.
An important contribution to the economy comes from the intensive cultivation of species, such as the Kiwi of excellent quality and even Mango, in the Fiumefreddo area.
The Sicilian climate, particularly hot, also allows the cultivation of bananas.
The traditional cultivation of the vine allows the production of excellent liqueur wines that are increasingly appreciated abroad. Among the best known wines are the Corvo di Salaparuta, the Marsala, of the province of Trapani, the Moscato di Pantelleria, the Nero d'Avola, the Malvasia di Lipari, the Cerasuolo di Vittoria and the Etna and the Zibibbo.
Bio Agriculture
The numbers of the organic in Italy tell of a sector that has been strongly transformed and strengthened in recent years, moving from the trend towards niche markets to a real lifestyle for millions of Italian consumers. At the same time, organic farming is playing an increasingly important role as a revival opportunity for many companies in our agri-food sector. While in the traditional agriculture every year many companies close, giving way to larger and more structured companies, the organic sector is going against the trend, demonstrating that even smaller companies, thanks to the application of the principles of biodynamic agriculture , can successfully be on the market.
More consumers who are attentive to health and the environment, more demand for organic products, more companies that choose to produce in a more natural way and more transparency in order to learn more about a rapidly expanding universe.
Today there are about 60 thousand Italian companies with "Bio" certification, 24 thousand of which (almost 40% of the total) accredited by the national certification system only in the last three years.
Sicily is the region with the highest number of companies certifying "bio" in Italy: 9,444. In second place the Calabria with 7.978, the third Puglia with 6.873. The Sicilian province with the largest number of "bio" companies is Palermo, with 1,609 companies, sixth nationally.
Fishing Industry
The fishing industry is still one of the most important sectors in the Sicilian economy. The fishing industry includes a myriad of companies in the production and distribution process, including fishing companies, processing plants, distributors and wholesalers.
This fragmentation is forcing companies to form groups (fishing districts) in order to ensure economies of scale and gain greater market power on the world market, thus creating a strong brand and an image immediately recognizable by consumers. Recently, there has been a significant change in the market towards high value-added fish products, ready to eat or for sale in specialty food stores.
Furthermore, in the future we will see a sharp increase in processed fish products, such as fillets and other cuts, in a market traditionally dominated by the consumption of "whole" fish. There is a general upward trend in global consumption of fish products (due to the recent move towards healthier food) with an ever-increasing demand for a range of products (ready-made or partially precooked dishes and canned fish salads) to adapt to new lifestyle trends (more women working, less regular meals, etc.).
Sicily is one of the few regions in Italy where the sector presents a positive trade balance with a great potential not yet fully realized.
Tourism
A series of financing programs aimed at improving the quality of services has given a significant boost to the development of tourism in Sicily. This has led to growth rates even higher than the national average.
The investments made in previous years have led to a re-development of the unique historical, cultural and natural heritage of Sicily. Furthermore, the presence of numerous UNESCO sites acts as a catalyst for the tourist presence. Tourism is indeed one of the driving sectors of the regional economy.
Sicily is one of the most popular Italian destinations that represent over 50% of the national low cost flights market.
Airports in Sicily offer great potential for development and new operators, following investment in infrastructure. The construction of a new air terminal in Catania, the Comiso passenger airport and the planned development for the airports of Palermo and Trapani will allow a further development of commercial and passenger flights to and from Sicily.
The Sicilian Region is actively involved in a series of international partnership projects aimed at developing eco-friendly tourism, in particular the 'Italy-Malta' and 'Italy-Tunisia' Operational Programs.
Decorative Ceramics
The Italian ceramic of the twentieth century was undoubtedly the most decorative of its time in the world. What was happening in Italy in the ceramics industry took place only occasionally in other parts of the world; mainly the work of a single producer, an artist particularly gifted or confined to a small area.
In Italy, and even more so in Sicily, exactly the opposite was happening. It was a widespread phenomenon throughout the country with artists, producers, laboratories and ceramic centers that used modern and traditional techniques. Italian pottery was very popular and was always at the forefront of the styles of the time.
The traditional ceramic centers in Sicily have shown a particular ability to reinvent their craft, creating unique pieces of art or everyday objects.
Some of the objects are extremely beautiful - a clear demonstration of the natural talent and creativity of the artist (articles also made to order).
The craftsmanship and the ceramic sector in particular have contributed to making the industry a center of excellence for quality, skill, creativity and innovation in production.
