Hi, my name is Raul Arcos Lozano, and I am the General Manager and owner of Grupo Palenque. Here in Mexico, we grow organic mangoes. Mango farming has been my passion from the very beginning, and I am grateful that our fruit now reaches consumers who consciously choose organic products.

From orchard to Grupo Palenque

The history of Grupo Palenque goes back to the 1980s. I always wanted to grow fruit and vegetables, and I knew that Oaxaca was a renowned mango-growing region. I therefore decided to live and work there to gain the knowledge and resources needed to buy my own orchard. In 1983, I purchased the El Palenque orchard. That orchard became my main source of inspiration, which is why I later named my exporting company Grupo Palenque. Over the years I acquired more orchards, and today I am proud that two of my sons have joined me to continue this mango journey together.

Growing mangoes in the right place

Our orchards are located near the border between Chiapas and Oaxaca, close to the municipality of San Pedro Tapanatepec. The climate here is warm and sub-humid, with rainfall in summer — conditions that are ideal for mango production. This is exactly why I chose this region to build my business.

Choosing organic

I decided to convert to organic farming in 2011. Initially, staying competitive in the market played a role, but over time I came to see many more benefits. Organic farming helps prevent soil degradation, toxic runoff, water pollution and the loss of beneficial insects and organisms. Today, organic growing is not just about value creation — it is about responsibility.

Passion for mangoes and people

What I enjoy most is being in the orchards. Every day I visit them to make sure everything is taken care of. I am fortunate to work with committed people who share my passion for mangoes. Our orchards and packing houses are located in areas where poverty levels are high, so it is a conscious commitment to employ people from local communities and help strengthen the local economy.

Looking ahead

For the future, we are further expanding our organic mango production by converting additional orchards. At the same time, we continue investing in renewable energy, including photovoltaic systems installed in Oaxaca and Nayarit. These steps help us move towards a more sustainable mango supply chain.