We are based in Peru around 100 km to the north of the capital city Lima. Thanks to the Huara river and the Santa Rosa irrigation project which was set up in the late 60’s, this valley is now a rich agricultural region. To me organic agriculture means working with nature. Plants and trees are living organisms just like human beings: they tell you what they need, all you need to do is able to know how to understand them.
We grow a number of varieties of mandarins: Satsuma Okitsu, a big local favourite. Then we have the Satsuma Owari, which has great colour and taste. We also grow the Malvasio variety that has a lot of seeds but has a great taste. Furthermore we grow Minneola’s, a cross between a grapefruit and a mandarin, and avocado’s.
Here at Cultivos Orgánicos, we employ 40 permanent workers and during the season an additional 60. The workers come from other parts of Peru including the mountains and jungle.
How ‘bout taste?
Adolfo’s Satsuma mandarins are very sweet and very tasty; they have a higher solid content than conventional Satsuma’s, which means more taste (if you want to know exactly: BRIX 10 instead of 8,5).