Nueces de Catamarca

Quality Certified Chandler Walnuts

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Nueces de Catamarca got GlobalG.A.P certification, which facilitates access to the main markets in the world and opens up commercialization opportunities in the European, American and Brazilian supermarket chains, as well as in the domestic market.

Walnut production joins the path towards continuous improvement which involves the comprehensive management system applied at Grupo Lucci’s companies, providing healthy and safe products to our customers.

Great Teamwork

“Working on the process which laid the foundation for GlobalG.A.P. certification and which began in 2021 was a real challenge to all the team”, explains Noelia Lescano, Head of Quality Assurance and Environment.

“Walnut trees require specific conditions, and, working in a coordinated manner with all Nueces de Catamarca’s team, we managed to establish a management system which enables us to meet the standards of this certification. We introduced a training program in the Production, Packing and Service areas. We worked in order to streamline and prepare work procedures, documents and records to prove our strict adherence to good agricultural and manufacturing practices”, adds Lescano.

This work took months and involved a thorough review of the many processes taking place at the company, including various cultural activities, irrigation system efficiency, the use of phytosanitary products, and environmental risks, among others. Each of these activities was thoroughly documented in accordance with GLOBALG.A.P. standards. Internal audits were the first milestone in this process, and we ended it with an external audit.

“This certification ensures that the food products manufactured and processed by Nueces de Catamarca meet the criteria of food safety, environmental protection, and care for employee health, safety and well-being”, explains César Tello, Nueces de Catamarca’s Field Manager.

“All this process also involved investments in infrastructure, such as building new canteens and a new storehouse to increase our stock capacity, or building more toilets for our staff”, explains César Tello.

Production and Commercialization

Nueces de Catamarca has 215 productive hectares of Chandler walnuts and a daily drying capacity of 70 tons. It employs 17 collaborators under the charge of Ruben Gambarte and supervised by César Tello, Nueces de Catamarca’s Field Manager.

Due to the heavy frosts in November 2022 and an extremely rainy April in 2023, there was a significant decrease in the 2023 harvest, which amounted to 320 tons, in comparison with the 2022 harvest of 600 tons.

While 85% of our production is sold in the domestic market, 15% is sold abroad. It is expected that our exports will grow by 40% in the mid-term.

Argentina produces between 20,000 and 23,000 tons of walnuts every year, and almost 10,000 tons are consumed in the domestic market. (*)

What is GlobalG.A.P. Certification? (Good Agricultural Practices)

This internationally recognized standard certifies good agricultural practices and authorizes produces to sell their products in global markets. In addition, it ensures that production techniques with minimal environmental impact are being employed, that natural resources are being used efficiently, and that workers, producers, distributors and consumers are safeguarded.

GlobalG.A.P. standard for fruits and vegetables is in keeping with the Principles of the Global Compact with regard to Food and Agroindustry, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These practices encompass all the process, from production in the field to the packed end-product to be distributed in the market.

Fair Attendance

In 2022, Nueces de Catamarca took part in important international fairs, such as Gulfood in Dubai, Anuga in Germany, and Anufood in Brazil, in order to strengthen business relations with current customers and develop new ones with potential customers.

“By attending international fairs, we managed to expand Nueces de Catamarca’s commercial horizon by getting in contact with potential customers in markets such as Africa, Middle East, India, Europe (Italy, Germany and Spain), and Brazil”, stated Octavio Murcani Fernández, Nueces de Catamarca’s Commercial Representative.

“We strengthened our relation with public bodies, business promotion agencies, producers’ associations and other relevant entities in the sector. It was really productive in order to boost Nueces de Catamarca’s global positioning”, said Martijn Hazeu, Nueces de Catamarca’s Commercial Representative.

Noelia Lescano

Head of Quality Assurance and Environment

Martijn Hazeu

Commercial Representative

César Tello

Field Manager

Octavio Murcani Fernández

Commercial Representative

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