Inside Ciccolella, Italy's leading producer of cut flowers

Ciccolella has about 100 hectares of greenhouses at its production sites in Italy. Photograph: Ciccolella

An employee at the Candela site. Ciccolella is a family firm founded by farmers in the 1960s. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce

Ciccolella produces nearly 400m flowers per year. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce

Ciccolella produces 64 varieties of rose and 25 of anthurium. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce

Ciccolella was the first floricultural company listed in Europe. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce

Ciccolella is the leading European producer of roses. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce

An employee prepares flowers for sale. More than 40% of the produce goes through Europe. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce

Since Ciccolella bought three Dutch rivals in 2004, its flowers have become available across the continent. Photograph: Mario Laporta/Controluce