A de Coco is the leading company dedicated to the cultivation, harvest and processing of high quality coconuts in Mexico. It was founded more than half a century ago in the ex-Hacienda of Cuyutlán, Colima, and it is a motor of economic development in the communities in which it operates.
"The market for coconut water in Mexico is booming," said Iñaki Saiz, director of the company. "When we started to market coconut water 5 years ago we only marketed 200,000 liters a year. Every year since we have grown by more than 70%," he added. The US market for coconut just began 8 years ago and it currently has a value of almost 1 billion dollars a year. To sustain this growth rate, A de Coco has had to increase the productivity of its plantations and develop alliances with producers to encourage the cultivation and processing of the product, while making sure its quality is maintained.
"The coconut is a very noble fruit, it provides producers with a means of living and many nutritional properties for those who consume it," said Iñaki. "Our production processes are designed to preserve all of the coconut's qualities and natural benefits, which allows us to offer products, such as coconut water, that really contribute to the health and nutrition of consumers," he added.
Coconut water is the natural moisturizer par excellence, its electrolytes make it a natural isotonic: it has more potassium than bananas and fewer calories than an apple. In addition, it is fat free, doesn't have preservatives, flavorings, or artificial sweeteners, which makes it ideal for regular consumption.
A de Coco works with over 1,500 families in the States of Colima, Michoacán, and Guerrero under a fair trade scheme, i.e., the company purchases the raw material from producers at a minimum guaranteed price, which helps ensure the quality of the harvest. Additionaly, the company has a processing factory located in the city of Armero, Colima, and it is the largest employer in the city.
Most of the company's products are certified organic, which means that they are obtained in an ecological and environmentally friendly way. The company avoids the use of synthetic products, such as pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilizers in its production process, to guarantee that their product maintains its natural properties.
A de Coco proudly offers consumers a line of high quality, organic, Mexican products that are produced through a process that safeguards their natural properties and contributes to the sustainability of the communities with which it works .
Source: elpuntocritico.com