Company
Tierra Orgánica
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Paul Riera
“Our maracuja and yellow pitahaya are grown organically by small farmers, with care for soil, biodiversity and people.”
Products
Organic yellow passion fruit (maracuja)
Organic yellow pitahaya (dragon fruit)
Country
Ecuador
Hi, my name is Paul Riera, and I am the co-founder of Tierra Orgánica, an organic initiative based in the coastal region of Ecuador. Together with my partner, an agricultural engineer, we work with small farmers to produce organic yellow passion fruit (maracuja) and organic yellow pitahaya (dragon fruit) for Nature & More. Our project combines organic production with social and economic development for farming communities.
Why Tierra Orgánica started
Tierra Orgánica was founded after extensive research into the realities faced by small farmers in Ecuador. We identified common challenges such as limited access to nursery plants, a lack of technical knowledge about organic production, and long supply chains that result in very low prices for farmers. To address this, we created a model that supports farmers with training, technical guidance and secure market access.
Organic fruit from small producers
Our farmers grow yellow passion fruit and yellow pitahaya in a regenerative and artisanal way, working largely by hand. These organic practices help enrich soils, support biodiversity, protect water resources and capture carbon in the soil. By managing our own nursery gardens and organising group organic certification—the first of its kind in Ecuador for fruits other than bananas—we help small producers meet organic standards and access export markets.
Building resilience after disaster
Our project began shortly after a major earthquake struck Ecuador in 2016. Tierra Orgánica was created to help farmers rebuild their livelihoods by offering new opportunities through organic fruit production. By signing contracts that guarantee the purchase of their fruit at baseline prices, we provide stability and a shorter, fairer value chain.
Education, transparency and fairness
Education is at the heart of Tierra Orgánica. We focus on continuous training and personal development, creating a work environment where people are encouraged to learn, share ideas and grow. We believe in transparency, gender equality and fair treatment. Farmers work under clear contracts that guarantee fair prices and long-term cooperation, provided organic standards are met.
Our positive impact
Climate
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Tierra Orgánica works with small-scale producers who grow 100% organic fruit by hand, without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
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Regenerative, artisanal production methods aim to capture carbon in the soil while increasing biodiversity and soil vitality.
Water
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The coastal regions of Ecuador where the farmers operate do not face water scarcity.
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Small-scale production keeps water impact minimal.
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Organic farming ensures that water used for crops is not contaminated by pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
Soil
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Crop rotation plans are used to prevent soil exhaustion and maintain long-term soil vitality.
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Tierra Orgánica produces its own compost from organic company waste to feed the soil naturally.
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Annual soil analyses are carried out to prevent erosion and runoff.
Biodiversity
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Diverse soils and altitude differences in Santa Domingo and Manabí allow a wide range of tropical crops to grow naturally.
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Regenerative organic practices contribute to richer soils and increased biodiversity on and around the farms.
Individual
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Tierra Orgánica started as an education project, providing farmers with continuous technical support in organic production.
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Personal development, openness and transparency are core values within the organisation.
Society
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Farmers receive secure contracts with guaranteed purchase of their organic fruit at fair baseline prices.
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The project was created to give new opportunities to small farmers, especially after the 2016 earthquake in Ecuador.
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Gender equality and non-discrimination are actively promoted within the company.
Economy
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Tierra Orgánica manages the first organic group certification in Ecuador for fruits other than bananas.
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By shortening the supply chain, farmers gain better market access and improved income for maracuja and yellow pitahaya.
Greetings from our farm!
Location
Ecuador — coastal regions of Santo Domingo and Manabí, where Tierra Orgánica works with small farmers growing organic maracuja and yellow pitahaya.
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