Lime Packing House

Increase citrus producer access to international markets.

Investment overview

Impact category

Agrifood Systems

Investment type

Loan

Yearly interest

9.25

Term

months

Risk level

B-

Vallata is a Colombian organic citrus (oranges and limes) producer and exporter. Vallata is focused on the sustainability of their processes and the social impact of their activity.

This raising through this campaign will be used to co-finance the construction of a cutting-edge lime packing house in Valle del Cauca. The goal is to reinforce the capacity to access international markets.

After over a year of planning the Lime Packing House construction started in February 2024. In March 2024 Vallata purchased machinery and are now operational.

The promoter is committed to bolstering the livelihoods of local lime growers, promoting sustainable farming practices, and nurturing the economic fabric of their community.

What is the impact?

Direct

Increase agricultural productivity and access to international markets for producers: the packing facility financed through this campaign will allow Vallata to connect and integrate the producing land to the exporting markets, which contributes to increased efficiency in processes and costs. The packing house is part of Vallata’s role in improving access to international markets of Colombian fruit producers. In the packing house, Vallata will process and pack for the export of organic limes.

Indirect

Promotion of sustainable and resilient food production systems: Vallata implements the organic mode of production for limes and other fruit, having their own production as well as the smallholder producers with whom they partner are certified organic and good agricultural practices (Global GAP certification). Vallata owns 100 hectares of land that are under production and another 130 hectares that are being sowed, while the associated producers amount to another 100 hectares. In addition, Valllata owns 40 hectares of land that are natural reserve. In total, currently there are 240 hectares of land under organic agriculture or natural protection.
Increase productivity and financial health of smallholder farmers: around 50% of Vallata’s limes exports originate from 82 smallholder farmers. Vallata and the smallholder farmers work together within an agreement with a third organisation specialized in organic production and exporting. Through this agreement, the producers receive technical assistance in organic certification and access to markets, as well as better conditions for payments receival.
Improve resources use efficiency in consumption and production: Vallata implements a set of sustainable practices in its production and relation with producers. On the farms, they use manual irrigation systems (that are water-use efficient) and have 40 hectares of natural reserve protecting river basins. Regarding energy consumption, Vallata’s activity is not very energy intensive, however their energy consumption comes from hydroelectric plants in Antioquía. In their waste management, Vallata composts the residues from the farm to use as organic matter and fertilizer for the production. Also, the promoter has been working with European partners to reduce waste of the aesthetically rejected fruit on traditional sale through processing of other derived products, such as juice from the organic limes.

Impact indicators
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120

hectars

of sustainable water and land management

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
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About the Promoter

About

Vallata SAS

Created in 2017 by the Escobar Santa Maria family, Vallata S.A.S. is a testament to their founders' agricultural passion.

In 2009, a family from Antioquia bet on their land and planted their first citrus tree. Over time, what started as a small plantation became a citrus exporting company. Today, Vallata has hundreds of hectares planted and managed by highly trained agronomists and many farmers. The promoter closed 2024 with 135 full-time workers.

Under Alejandro Escobar Santa Maria’s leadership, the company has grown with operations in Medellin’s headquarters, Antioquia’s farms, and Valle del Cauca’s packing facilities.

The promoter's main activities are the production and sales of citrus fruits, especially limes, oranges, and lemons. From the planting of the trees in the nurseries to the delivery to the final customer. Vallata also plans to produce avocados, vanilla beans, and cashew nuts.

Main export destinations include the USA, the European Union, and the Caribbean. Their mission is to grow in the international market, contributing towards sustainable development in different regions in Colombia, specifically Antioquia and Valle del Cauca.

In addition to agriculture, the Santamaría family group also develops real estate projects through affiliated entities such as Origin Land Company, focused on sustainable land use, tourism, and community development.

To establish a production method that respects the environment, Vallata has dedicated years of effort to certify their processes, endorsing their commitment to environmental excellence and social responsibility:

Global G.A.P: sets standards for agricultural production, covering aspects such as food safety, product quality, environmental management and worker health, safety and welfare.
Global G.A.P GRASP: assesses aspects such as working conditions, worker training and participation, occupational health and safety, and compliance with local labor legislation.
Mayacert Ecologic Standard: sets standards for environmentally friendly production, ensuring compliance with specific ecological criteria to promote sustainability.

Promoter website

https://www.instagram.com/vallata_sas/

Team
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[{"id":219,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Alejandro Escobar","description":"After finishing his bachelor's in Business Management Alejandro became Colombia's first organic orange grower and exporter to Europe, co-founded a major agricultural startup, and later focused on expanding his family's business, Vallata.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-escobar-santa-mar%C3%ADa-aa006b56/","role":"CEO","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/665/9d5/b80/6659d5b80bbba483377902.jpeg","avatar_id":144116},{"id":220,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Diego Lopera","description":"As Director of Operations and Agricultural Engineer, Diego combines financial and operational management skills to optimize the production and sustainability of farms specializing in Tahiti Lime citrus. His focus is on ensuring operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and product quality in all operations.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-mauricio-lopera-mar%C3%ADn-6600721a4/","role":"COO","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/665/9d4/a8c/6659d4a8c33e9034145512.jpeg","avatar_id":144114},{"id":221,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Rafael Santa María","description":"Rafael leads the development of new business models and ensures that every project is executed with excellence. He has directed initiatives in livestock management, sustainable agriculture, and rural development, bringing a strategic vision that integrates growth, efficiency, and long-term impact.","link":"","role":"Co-founder","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/692/84c/0f5/69284c0f5b34c535104407.jpg","avatar_id":206837},{"id":222,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Maria Fernanda Díaz","description":"With a solid background and over 6 years of experience coordinating administrative and accounting tasks, Maria Fernanda's proactive and detail-oriented approach enables her to optimize company resources and ensure the fulfillment of organizational objectives.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar%C3%ADa-fernanda-d%C3%ADaz-salas-3a5a02254/","role":"Management Coordinator","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/665/0b0/1ce/6650b01ce820b277520320.jpeg","avatar_id":142593},{"id":223,"promoter_id":328,"name":"María Isabel Sabas Jiménez","description":"María, experienced in managing logistical operations, is responsible for coordinating and optimizing the functioning of the property, ensuring that processes are efficient and smooth within the plant.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar%C3%ADa-isabel-sabas-jim%C3%A9nez-36357230b","role":"Estate Logistics Coordinator","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/665/9d4/8ce/6659d48ced9c1471745296.png","avatar_id":144112},{"id":224,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Zulay Rengifo Peña","description":"With a background in Public Accounting and Administrative Sciences, Zulay combines her academic experience with her logistics management and coordination skills to ensure efficiency and quality in the plant's processes.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/zulay-rengifo-pe%C3%B1a-65b868239","role":"Plant and Logistics Coordinator","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/665/9d4/846/6659d4846c40a073172111.jpeg","avatar_id":144111},{"id":225,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Emmanuel Muñoz","description":"Emmanuel is a Certified Public Accountant and leads the accounting department. With experience in the financial sector, he is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of records and compliance with financial regulations.","link":"","role":"Head of Accounting","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/692/84a/775/69284a7754bcf524756786.jpg","avatar_id":206836},{"id":386,"promoter_id":328,"name":"Sara Escobar","description":"With a master's degree in Digital Marketing, Sara has led large-scale marketing projects in the food industry across Latin America, Mexico, and Spain. Her experience combines strategy, brand development, and digital execution to strengthen positioning and drive growth across multiple markets.","link":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraesm/?locale=en_US","role":"CMO","member_photo":"https://991934249232-prod-octobercms-public-storage.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/692/84d/24c/69284d24cff59127211336.jpg","avatar_id":206838}]

Business Model
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