The work of sustainability.
Sustainability does not come easily or quickly. It is not achieved through a single project. Rather, it requires a systemic and mindful approach, and a willingness to continually examine all aspects of the modern agricultural business model.
Greener
Cold Storage
In 2017, VTO constructed an advanced 15,000 square foot storage facility near Chillán, Chile. Viva Tierra was the first US grower/packer/shipper to build a dedicated storage facility in Chile, a significant advantage in maintaining the quality of our fruit for export. We knew we needed to think local, green, and outside of the box, so we partnered with local professionals Alvaro Sepúlveda, engineer in charge of construction, and his brother, architect Esteban Sepúlveda, to do just that.
Harness the power of nature to increase efficiency.
Key to the efficiency of the storage facility, climbing Boston Ivy creates a natural layer of insulation around the exterior, creating shade and lowering base temperature. This lessens the demand on cooling equipment. Offices are north-facing (the best sun orientation in Chile), with thermal windows looking onto the Andes Mountains.
Create ongoing benefits for the local economy.
With a 6900 bin storage capacity, top-of-the-line Italian and German refrigeration units and 35-ton truck scale, the facility offers regional growers a new, modern storage solution for their fruit. In addition to using local contractors for the construction, the operation of the frigorifico has also created several full time local jobs. Learn more at fno.cl.
Agricola Santa Isabel de Cato S.A.
In 1997, Viva Tierra teamed up with a Chilean apple grower near the town of Chillán to establish one of the first successful organic programs in the country, Agricola Santa Isabel de Cato S.A., known as ASICSA. Today we remain the only US importer of organic apples from Chile who also grows in-country, giving us a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards local producers face.
ASICSA operates with the help of a committed team of workers who are passionate about the trees and the land… and fútbol, better known in the US as soccer. On Sundays, workers and their families look forward to joining teams from other local orchards for matches on the orchard's playing field. VTO has a long standing commitment to returning profits from the orchard to enrich the local community. In true partnership fashion, workers determine which community projects are of importance to them when it comes to reinvesting profits from the fruits of their labors – and as a result, the orchard now possesses a team bus, so the fútbol team can enjoy both home and away games.
Years of experience have proven the value that empowering our community in this way provides, creating team spirit and long lasting relationships, which in turn help grow the best organic apples.