The Cesena Fruit and Vegetable Market inaugurates the new climate-controlled and digitalised market hall

The Cesena Fruit and Vegetable Market has inaugurated the new market hall following completion of the works on the Pnrr project “The Market towards the logistics and work of the future”, promoted by Filiera Ortofrutticola Romagnola.

The project, with a total value of 5,78 million euros, has profoundly transformed one of the strategic infrastructures for the area’s agri-food supply chain, focusing on energy sustainability, digitalisation, quality of work and greater logistical efficiency.

The new climate-controlled market hall

The heart of the project is the new climate-controlled market hall. The central nave has been enclosed and insulated using prefabricated isothermal panels and rapid doors, with the installation of two Rooftop heat pump systems equipped with heat recovery and a free-cooling system. This solution was designed to eliminate temperature fluctuations which, particularly during the summer months, can encourage condensation and mould formation and, during winter, compromise the organoleptic quality and shelf-life of the products.

The new system makes it possible to maintain controlled temperatures and ensure constant air renewal, while simultaneously improving operators’ working conditions and the storage of goods. The management of the systems has also been completely digitalised: Plc units, field transducers and centralised supervision enable continuous monitoring of climate parameters, with the option of remote control via the web.

Energy from renewable sources

Another central element of the project is the enhancement of energy production from renewable sources. Three new photovoltaic systems have been built, with a total capacity of 498,6 kWp, capable of ensuring an estimated annual production of more than 520.000 kWh. This capacity is supplemented by the existing photovoltaic system, rated at 500 kWp.

Total production therefore exceeds 921.000 kWh per year, against an additional requirement for climate control and the new systems estimated at approximately 262.000 kWh per year. The project’s energy balance is therefore decidedly positive, strengthening the facility’s electrical self-sufficiency. To complete the energy-efficiency programme, the market has also undergone a complete relamping with Led technology, significantly improving the efficiency of the lighting systems.

New refrigeration system

The work on the refrigeration system serving the 18 market chambers, in operation since the ‘70 s, was also important. The old system was completely dismantled and replaced with a new system, designed to cool up to 2.500 quintals of fruit and vegetable produce per day, bringing it from a temperature of +15 °C to +0 °C within 24 hours. The new system ensures greater thermal stability, energy efficiency and reliability in the preservation of products. The refrigeration system’s management has also been computerised and integrated with the central supervision system.

The comment

For Alessandro Giunchi, sole director of Filiera Ortofrutticola Romagnola, the project represents a strategic investment in the market’s ability to address the transformations affecting the sector: “Fruit and vegetable markets are increasingly being called upon to respond to an agri-food supply chain that is constantly and rapidly evolving. In recent years, the fruit and vegetable trade has decisively shifted towards Gdo, prompting deep reflection on the other distribution channels. The extensive works at the Cesena Fruit and Vegetable Market do not simply change the appearance of the facility, but transform it into a modern, sustainable, digitalised and perfectly interconnected hub, ready to face these new global challenges. The Cesena Market will be enabled to operate during daytime hours as well and is positioning itself to host new operators who need a cutting-edge logistics base”.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.