Let's discover Fattoria Cretarola from Abruzzo

Fattoria Cretarola is a &' farm located in the heart of &' Abruzzo, just outside Penne, one of the most beautiful villages d&' Italy in the province of Pescara, and its products narrate the true essence of the territory.
Twelve hectares that tell a story: this is precisely the vastness of territory that houses olive trees, tomatoes, vines and fruit trees all&' within the green region, which is among the best for the production of extra virgin olive oil.
&' oil is precisely the flagship product of &' company: in fact, centuries-old Castiglione trees are cultivated here, which give life to one of the four varieties of cold-extracted oils, together with starboard, leccino and peranzana.

The territory exudes tradition, the story of a family that has been passing the baton for three generations, whose philosophy has always been to offer local products while keeping the local tradition unchanged.
Although tradition is the key to success, there is certainly no lack of &' innovation: the continuous search for modern techniques to combine with ancient customs is the engine of &' farm.

Danilo and Manuel are now in charge of &' company and represent the third generation of the family. Marrying the ideals of Fattoria Cretarola, in 2017 they took over &' a farm that was established by their grandparents. Care, attention and quality are the cornerstones on which production is based.
It is precisely the two brothers who take care of &' the entire production process: Manuel is committed to the cultivation and processing of products, with great dedication and perseverance, while Danilo is dedicated to promoting local excellence.

We like these realities, these producers of unique, certified and award-winning delicacies: they are real treasures embedded in our Peninsula between seas and mountains and in the most remote streets of villages and countryside. We don't stop to experience only their products, but we want to discover more closely the protagonists of this brand. That's why we sent some questions to those who manage communication with us.

Stay with us and get to know Fattoria Cretarola: read the answers!

• Who are we talking to?
  I'm Danilo Cretarola, CEO.
  
• Is the company family run? For how many generations and from what year exactly?
  Yes, third generation. The company was founded by our grandparents in 1958.
  
• What is the real reason or the triggering fact behind the birth of this company and when did it happen?
  Our link with the territory and above all our link with our farm where we grew up. I still remember when we were little we 'helped' our grandparents during the olive harvest. Beautiful! Hence the desire to create a unique product, a healthy product of the highest quality, and to bring our territory through our oil all over the world.
  
• What is your relationship with the land of origin and its typicality? And why do you want to tell them with your products?
  It is a sincere and very respectful relationship, we grew up in those fields that have taught us so much, such as respect for the environment, the relationship with the territory and the love for the products we can produce. Extra virgin olive oil best expresses our territory because it can complete a dish by embellishing it and so our territory is also able to embellish our region.
  
• What was the first product you created?
  L&' Extra virgin olive oil.
  
• What is the product that today, on the other hand, do you consider “top”?
  Again l&' Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
  
• And what is the product that in the entire history of the company has most carried with it the beating heart, philosophy and soul of the company itself?
  Always l&' Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
  
• Let's talk about today: how big has the company grown since its inception? Can we get some numbers?
  Over the years, the company has grown in terms of hectares: today we have 13 hectares of property and the production of extra virgin olive oil has quadrupled, thanks also to collaborations with local farmers.
  
• Right now: more tradition or more innovation?
  Definitely innovation.
  
• Speaking instead of the future: what tomorrow will the company wait for? Are there any changes or some new evolutionary process planned?
  The dream of being present in all international markets so that the world can get to know our territory up close.
  
• Are you planning to create new products?
  Definitely. We are considering 2-3 roads and as soon as possible you will know our news.
  
• Having focused on Spaghetti & Mandolino, how important is online sales for you, what was your relationship in the past with this sales channel and how do you see it in the future?
  It is certainly a very important sales channel and above all a very selective sales channel, but I am sure that soon we will return to buying food products in the wine shop or in the reference boutiques as before the pandemic. In my opinion, the online market will be successful only for a few sectors and the food market is not one of them. Because we will never change our reality or the wine shops, the trusted shops, at least that's what I hope.
  
• Value: what was it, what is it today and what will it be in the future for your company?
  Respect for the territory, through sustainability from cultivation to processing. For us, the Quality and Genuineness of the product come before everything, and only by respecting the territory can we achieve the maximum expression of the
product.

S&M