About ten years ago, the landscape surrounding the towns of Mórrope and Olmos, in the Peruvian province of Lambayeque, underwent a very quick transformation, with its arid desert lands turning into vast fields brimming with life. This wasn't only due to the lush blueberry, avocado and table grape crops, but also to the daily arrival of thousands of people dedicated to nurturing and harvesting top-quality fruits, earning a decent wage in the process. Consequently, a second metamorphosis occurred: the transformation of the lives of these workers and, by extension, of the communities they inhabit.
In 2022, Agrovision achieved a turnover of USD 210 million, with 2,800 hectares cultivated in Peru, Mexico and Morocco. It also created 17,606 jobs in Peru and Mexico. It invested more than $200,000 in local communities and planted 119,000 trees in the Arena Verde Forest Reserve in Mórrope.
This change was possible thanks to the visionary courage of several agricultural companies, including Agrovision Peru and Arena Verde, subsidiaries of Agrovision Corp, a corporation of American origin and one of the world's largest berry producers. The company wants to redefine the agricultural industry, aiming to transform both lands and lives.
Blueberries from Agrovision Peru, cultivated in the middle of the desert.
From biofuel production to blueberry cultivation
"A little over a decade ago, we leased about 12,000 hectares in the deserts of Mórrope with the idea of developing a project for the production of ethanol from sugarcane," says Eduardo Aza, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Agrovision Peru. "One of the biggest challenges at that time was proving that there was enough water in the underground aquifer. We invested significant amounts of money in studies and surveys, collaborating with perhaps the best geological engineer in our country: Mr. Arce. We were pioneers in the development of agricultural projects in this area of Peru, and we managed to demonstrate that there was an aquifer with potential beneath the desert lands of the Lambayeque Region."
Quality control before the blueberries are harvested.
Due to the reduction of biofuel prices in those years, Agrovision Peru changed its mind and replaced the ethanol project with a horticultural project, motivated by the profit that could potentially be made from blueberry cultivation. "We were pioneers here in Olmos with the planting of 1,000 hectares of blueberry crops, initially of the Biloxi and Ventura varieties. Almost immediately, we started exporting the fruit to China, Europe and the US," says Eduardo.
Quality control of the grapes grown by Agrovision in Olmos.
"About 60,000 people are currently hired in the area of influence of the Olmos Irrigation Project, taking into account the various agricultural companies with active operations there. About 600 transport vehicles enter it every day. Last season, Agrovision Peru employed about 15,000 people, mainly from the area, and during the pandemic, when the agricultural sector became especially relevant, people who had lost their jobs arrived from various parts of Peru to work at the Olmos Project. Last season, many producing companies were unable to keep employment at its usual levels due to the lower volume of fruit harvested, but in our case, we were able to continue creating jobs thanks to having switched to blueberry varieties that are better adapted to climate change, such as those from the Sekoya program," says Eduardo Aza.
The harvested blueberries arrive at the packing station.
"Our goal is to supply the markets every month of the year"
In 2022, the berry-producing company shipped more than 2,500 containers to international markets. 40% went to China and the rest to Europe and the US. "Our goal is to supply the markets every month of the year. This year, we are going to achieve it thanks to our commercial platforms in various destination markets, including London, the Netherlands, Shanghai, Los Angeles and Philadelphia; and to the diversification of our agricultural operations in other locations, especially Mexico and Morocco, but also China, India and Romania."
Quality control of blueberries at the packing station.
For two years, Agrovision has been growing blueberries, raspberries and blackberries intended for road export to the United States in more than 300 hectares in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The company also has 250 hectares with blueberry and raspberry crops in the Sus-Masa region of Morocco. Arable lands are also being sought in other regions of Peru with the aim of reducing the risks that may arise with climate change. "Attracted by our focus on social and environmental sustainability, several Peruvian and European banks and investment groups are granting us funding for these agricultural projects in Peru and overseas," says Eduardo Aza.
Blueberry sorting.
Medical care for workers
In addition to job creation, which remains the most effective way to boost the economic development of an area and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, the berry producer and exporter is carrying out an additional social task: providing medical care to its workers, even those living in the most remote villages, through the development of community medical days and a medical ambulance service in Mórrope, where the operational expenses of the health assistance service are covered. "Caring for people and the communities is in the DNA of the founders and shareholders of Agrovision Corp," says the Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs.
Blueberries are weighed and packed in clamshells.
"Regarding the environment, we have launched an initiative for the reforestation of a coastal forest on a plot of approximately 2,000 hectares in Mórrope, whose trees had been cut down in the past by illegal charcoal producers, who had thus destroyed the ecosystem," says Eduardo Aza, adding that this sustainability initiative has been awarded the most important national awards: the Antonio Brack Egg National Environmental Award, the Association of Agricultural Guilds (AGAP) award, and the Green Latin America Awards for its positive impact on the biodiversity of protected plant and animal species.
A final weight check.
For its part, Arena Verde is also a carbon-neutral company devoted to the organic cultivation of grapes and blueberries in approximately 150 hectares. "The name of this company, Arena Verde (Green Sand), refers to the fact that, in northern Peru, thanks to the rains brought by the El Niño phenomenon and the irrigation of various agricultural operations, the yellow of the desert sand has been turned green by the plants."
Agrovision Corp. seeks to have a positive impact on the biodiversity of protected plant and animal species.
Annual sustainability reports
In every country where Agrovision Corp. starts agricultural projects, it tries to implement its own sustainability model with the aim of mitigating climate change, promoting biodiversity and improving the quality of life of people. In this regard, Eduardo Aza mentions the sustainability reports that the company publishes each year with concrete data on the progress made in this area, and which can be consulted on the corporate website.
Reforesting pieces of desert.
Agrovision Corp. is a fast-growing agro-exporter with a solid portfolio of new blueberry, raspberry and blackberry varieties. It operates in Peru, Mexico and Morocco to be able to provide a year-round supply of fresh, quality products to its global customers. The quality of its products and its good labor, social and environmental practices are backed by certifications such as GlobalG.A.P., GRASP, SPRING, SMETA, AWS, EFI, USDA Organic and BRC, among others. In 2022, the company, whose berry acreage in Peru, Mexico and Morocco amounted to 2,800 hectares, achieved a turnover of $210 million, created 17,606 jobs in Peru and Mexico, invested more than $200,000 in local communities, and planted 119,000 trees in the Arena Verde Forest Reserve in Mórrope.
Regarding environmental initiatives, Agrovision has been working on reforesting a coastal forest of approximately 2,000 hectares in Mórrope. Each circle is a new tree.
For more information:
Eduardo Aza
Agrovision Peru
Camino Real 1281, Suite 803
San Isidro, Lima 15073, Peru
Tel.: +511 421 3468
[email protected]
www.agrovisioncorp.com