Finca Rio Colorado grows non-traditional vegetables under organic conditions that are later exported to the United States, Europe and Brazil. Demand remains strong.
In recent years, Finca Rio Colorado SRL took on asparagus production and transformed itself into the first small business to grow non-traditional vegetables under strict certified organic status. Currently it exports 90% of its products to North America, Europe and Brazil.
The firm has about 300 hectares along National Route 22 towards Valle Medio, six kilometers from the urban area of the city. Of these, 90 hectares are irrigated with a modern drip system. The acreage destined for premium asparagus is 25 hectares, with an average yield of eight tons per hectare, while the rest of the land is used for squash and onions.
Besides planting and harvesting asparagus, at Finca Rio Colorado they prepare and process the product in the plant installed in the Producers Cooperative of the colony Juliá and Echarren, where more than 100 people work in season. To close the production and commercial cycle, the owners themselves are responsible for selling food in the different chains.
Asparagus is harvested from mid-September and work is extended until late November.
Currently the company has already closed a sales program whereby 120 tons of asparagus that are harvested and packed, end up in the UK and the United States. 50 containers of organic pumpkin are also added, which will be traveling to Holland and Germany.
In addition, Finca Rio Colorado harvest organic onions. These are marketed directly in countries like Brazil and the Netherlands, when market prices permit.
Source: rionegro.com.ar