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Javier Moreno

Javier Moreno, Mexico

Hi, my name is Javier Moreno and I grow organic limes in the small state of Colima on the west coast of Mexico. Colima has a hot, dry climate which is perfect for the production of the famous sour Mexican Lime (limón).

I started growing the sour Mexican Lime more than thirty years ago in 1976. During the 90’s I became interested in organic cultivation and shortly afterwards decided to start producing organically.

Today we have 260ha of organic limes which we are exporting to Europe and the USA. We are successful in growing these wonderful fruits thanks to the combination of compost, a motivated, well trained team and the dry climate of Colima.

Interview with Javier Moreno

N&M: What made you decide to change from conventional to organic?
Javier: I am concerned about the natural environment and the impact it has on our personal lives. But also for future generations; our children and grandchildren have the same right to enjoy the beauty of this planet. We need to work on the awareness of the importance of our natural environment. Therefore I want to assume my responsibility by stabilising and improving the environmental conditions in our village. I believe that this improves our living conditions too.

N&M: What are the challenges of organic production?
Javier: We are constantly trying to improve our agricultural practices. As technical support is not always readily available here in Mexico, we are keen on sharing information with other lime growers around the world. This is really inspiring and very good for our learning. We did investigate the impact of organic methods on the environment. Based on what we found, we collaborated with the University of Colima to experiment with using organic limejuice as organic fertilizer. Also with the purpose to further improve the productivity and the conditions of the soil and the crop.

N&M: What does organic production mean to your employees?
Javier: We are motivated not only by protecting the environment but also by offering a healthier life to families, employees, neighbours and the next generation. We have set up a hospital for families and relatives and the orphanage at the site. Social responsibility is our commitment to the improvement of the living conditions of our community and the people around us.

I would like to say “gracias” on behalf of all our workers because through your purchase you are making a direct contribution to the future of the community’s youth here in Colima. Many of our employees are Native American descendants who have never enjoyed proper education due to fact that they live in remote parts of the country. That is why we have set up a special farm school which we hope will close the opportunity gap and provide the workers and their children with a better future. Thanks for making a real difference! Javier.

What am I growing?

Recipes with this ingredient

Chicory Salad with fresh marinated prawns

Granadilla-mango-smoothie

Guacamole

Noodle salad with bok choy

Pita bread with avocado and pumpkin

Marinated tofu with lemon grass

Geolocation is 18.9017392281, -103.90731811500001

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soil

As an organic grower ,Javier Moreno is very aware of the fertility of their soils. Once a year, he incorporates compost to feed the multitude of microorganisms that provide the nutrients for the avocado trees. These regular compost applications form the basis of the fertility program. This compost is made from local farmyard manure, packhouse waste, shredded tree prunings and other suitable organic matter. After fermenting for 6 – 8 weeks, this compost contains organic sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as trace minerals and – most importantly – many aerobic bacteria and fungi which provide the nutrients to the plants at the right time and in the right amount.

Javier also produces his own vermicompost. This nutrient rich compost is produced in special “beds” in which worms break down organic matter to create humus or worm casts. These nutrients are more easily assimilated by the plants than regular compost and are frequently applied to cure diseased avocado trees or prevent any nutrient deficiencies in the orchard. Instead of just feeding the soil, worm compost has a more direct effect on the plants and is used more as a medicine.

biodiversity

It is a general principle of organic farming that every living organism should be held in high regard: from the tiniest micro-organism living in the soil to the mightiest tree towering above it. For this reason, every link in the organic food supply chain is geared towards maintaining and, wherever possible, increasing the diversity of plants and animals.

Furthermore, many practices used by Javier Moreno (and other organic farmers around the world) to increase productivity have the natural knock-on effect of increasing plant and animal life and maintaining natural biodiversity. For example in the case of organic citrus production:

Using compost or livestock manures increases the concentration of micro-organisms, earthworms, spiders and beetles in the soil
Prioritising indigenous breeds of plants and animals maintains the natural diversity of different areas
Introducing natural enemies of weeds and pests, rather than using chemical synthetic pesticides, helps to increase animal life

For Javier, unpleasant experiences with conventional agriculture was the main motivation for switching to organic.

Javier: “I switched from growing conventional to organic limes because I am concerned about the natural environment and the impact it has not only on our personal lives but also for future generations. Our children and grandchildren have the same right to enjoy the beauty of this planet. We need to work on the awareness of the importance of our natural environment. Therefore I want to assume my responsibility by stabilising and improving the environmental conditions in our village. I believe that living conditions will improve in response to our more stabilised natural environment. By using organic cultivation practices, we want to maintain, protect, and improve the condition of our natural resources .and at the same time obtain the best possible quality of fruit in order to provide vital, healthy products to our customers”

society

An important element when it comes to freedom is a contribution to the development of the local community. Javier Moreno is a strong believer in this principle. He wanted to give something back to the community. An increasing part of his employees consist of indigenous people from the near mountainous area's. Every year more and more of them come to work in the valley, because word has spread that Moreno is a good employer. Last year, Moreno has built a new school for the children of his employees, and hired a teacher. There are now approximately 15 children, in different age categories. Moreno also constructed 14 new houses and is planning on constructing 50 more this year. At the start of 2012, 3000 euro was transferred to assist Moreno in his plans, through the "Ya da mo ase" campaign.

Fraternity, altruism, looking after each other’s needs, a fair distribution of wealth throughout the value chain and supply chain are the drivers of an economy that overcomes ‘penny wise pound foolish’ short term profit thinking and maximizes long term wealth for all.

Respect for human dignity leads to fundamental human rights with regards to equal chances and opportunities, just and favorable conditions of work, right to equal pay for equal work, the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself/herself and family an existence worthy of human dignity, and the right to rest and leisure.

climate

As with all fruits, when it comes to energy, lime trees rely on mother nature. Therefore in farming the dominant energy inputs are indirect and come for example from for the manufacture and transport of fertilisers (specifically nitrogen) and pesticides. Since Javier Moreno grows organic limes (therefore not using chemical fertilisers, pesticides or other agro chemicals), it comes as no surprise that their organic citrus fruits are considerably more energy efficient than their non organic counterparts.

Limes: 0.741 kg CO2e/kg

Carbon Footprint:

The results of the study show the carbon footprint (amount of greenhouse gas emissions) of one kilogram of product upon its arrival on European retail shelves.

All greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the assessed supply chain were identified and analyzed through assessment questionnaires, site visits and desktop research.

The assessments were done according to a comparable methodology as described in the PAS 2050 (Publicly Available Specification), a standard for carbon footprint assessment of goods and services developed by the BFI Group (the National Standards Body of the UK).

The carbon footprint assessment study takes into account direct emissions and indirect emissions.

In this assessment, direct GHG emissions include:

combustion of fossil fuel-related emissions for the vehicles and equipment on the farm,
volatilization of refrigerants,
soil emissions related to nitrogen fertilization at farm level.
In this assessment, indirect GHG emissions include:
emissions related to electricity purchased (used at farm level and for packing, storage, stationary cooling and other activities at the growers’ facilities and EOSTA’s distribution center and office),
emissions related to outsourced activities such as transport and mobile cooling from farm to pack house, to port, ocean vessel shipping, import handling and transport, and distribution to retail.
emissions related to the manufacturing and transport of agricultural inputs and packaging materials.

The calculations are based on GHG activity data provided by the different stakeholders of the supply chain, multiplied by the appropriate GHG emission factors. The GHG emission factors are provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the International Energy Agency (IEA); the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/Energy Information Administration (EIA); the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra), as well as independent studies.

The carbon footprint study was carried out by Soil & More International BV.

www.soilandmore.com

water

When it comes to water, Javier uses special ground water wells. Not only is this good for the lime trees and other vegetation in and around the orchards but the wells also attract a large variety of birds.

Javier also uses compost and studies have shown that good organic compost increases the water holding properties of the soil meaning that 100 litres of water goes much further on an organic farm compared to its conventional counterpart.

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