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A flagship project for Colombia that combines economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility: small-scale farmers produce organic limes for the European market. Thanks to the close partnership and consistent purchase of produce between Lehmann Natur and the smallholder cooperative, the livelihoods of many farmers are secured—with the goal of achieving significant growth by 2027.
During its annual trip to South America in late April 2022, lehmann natur visited its long-standing partner and producer of organic, Demeter, and Fairtrade limes . lehmann natur has been working very closely with the farm since 2016:
“We started out with five smallholder farmers, and together we’ve been able to increase the number of farms to over 60 over the past six years—by 2027, we want to significantly expand the project and plan to double the number of smallholder farmers.”
said Martin Jacobfeuerborn, Head of Purchasing at Lehmann Natur.
The cooperative’s farms are located at elevations ranging from 800 m to 1,200 m above sea level. This is the optimal elevation for limes in the region, as it allows them to develop a protective skin and a high juice content. The Santander region offers an ideal combination of elevation, high sunlight exposure, and nutrient-rich soils for producing a high-quality product. By strategically increasing the soil’s humus content, erosion is prevented, soil temperature is regulated, moisture is retained, and CO2 is stored in the soil.
On farms, it takes an average of three months from flowering to harvest, and production ensures year-round availability. Harvesting takes place approximately every 7–15 days, depending on the size of the farm.