Every February 10, World Legumes Day is celebrated, a date that serves to raise awareness about the multiple benefits that these foods offer in food security, nutrition, health, climate change and biodiversity. This year’s theme is “Legumes: nourishing soils and people.”
In this context, the company “Cosecha Justa” appears, who highlight the importance of growing legumes to promote the diversification of agricultural production systems, which in turn contributes to improving the health of the soil and guaranteeing the sustainability of agri-food systems. .
Founded in 2015 by Denisse Opazo, the national enterprise emerged as a response to the paradox of importing legumes while having local farmers capable of producing them. Observing the progressive decrease in the cultivated area of this type of food, the company embarked on a journey to promote change.
“We wondered why we didn’t have the option to choose between Chilean or Canadian lentils, given that imported products were always available. With that concern in mind, we headed to the countryside and visited the dry land of the O’Higgins Region and the Maule Region. It was there where we found farmers committed to the production of lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, peas and other products, and we began to work with them,” details Opazo.
In their first two years, they identified the need for high-quality national grains. In 2018, the company launched grains and flours certified as “Gluten-Free” and “Fair Trade” onto the market. This initiative not only responded to the growing demand for healthy products, but was also a response for people with celiac disease who must constantly search for this type of food.
The essence of Fair Harvest goes beyond the simple commercial transaction. The company forges long-term relationships with national farmers, ensuring fair prices for their products and providing support in their production processes. Actively promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, in this way they not only offer high-quality food, but also collaborate closely with local farming communities in their daily development.
In its search for quality, the enterprise carries out rigorous control of its products, which involves sending samples to laboratories and analysis, ensuring gluten-free certification and guaranteeing the absence of cross contamination in its products. But not only that, since they have also known how to innovate and, for example, today they make pastas made from legumes such as lentil and chickpea spirals.
On the other hand, they have found a strategic ally in Unimarc’s 100% Nuestro program, an initiative that has supported more than 400 SMEs throughout the country since 2012, promoting products created by Chilean entrepreneurs. The company contributes to the program with innovative and healthy products, enriching supermarket shelves and promoting a diversified and sustainable offer.
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