Hi, I’m Dioni, and I represent the Kivinaki Cooperative in the Chanchamayo valley of Peru. Together with a group of dedicated smallholder farmers, we grow organic oranges that are not only very juicy, but also 100% raingrown—grown using natural rainfall only, without irrigation.

From coffee to citrus

Coffee has long been one of the most important crops in our region. But after a major outbreak of coffee rust (La Roya) in 2013, coffee largely disappeared from the lower altitudes. Many farmers diversified into citrus and ginger, while continuing coffee on higher plots. This shift laid the foundation for a new chapter: after exporting organic orange juice, we are now—for the first time—exporting fresh organic oranges to Europe, which is a real milestone for us.

Small farms, diverse systems

At Kivinaki, farms are small—on average 5 to 6 hectares per farmer—but the systems are diverse. Many growers interplant oranges with other crops such as mango, papaya, coconut, maize, bananas, pepper and bamboo. This diversity supports biodiversity, strengthens natural resilience, and helps farmers spread risk and income.

Fully organic, low-input cultivation

Our cultivation is fully organic and based on compost and guano de isla (a nutrient-rich natural fertiliser from seabirds). With this approach, our farming systems are designed to be both ecologically and socially sustainable. The cooperative model also helps growers access export opportunities with organic citrus.