Siembra Esperanza closes its third edition with tools focused on post harvest

The Siembra Esperanza initiative reaches the third workshop of its third edition in Anzoátegui state with real enthusiasm, cementing a strategic partnership between Isola Foods, its OSOLE brand, the Dividendo Voluntario para la Comunidad (DVC) and Fe y Alegría. At this stage the programme moves beyond cultivation to focus on economic sustainability and on adding value to local production.

This third workshop, held once again at the San Joaquín Fe y Alegría school in Anaco, centres on the post harvest phase. Participants, including more than 150 farmers, teachers and students in this cohort, will receive key tools across several areas.

The day will open with a discussion of best practice in planting and cultivation, a space to reconfirm the knowledge acquired in the module one and two workshops and to anchor the activity in proper planning.

Financial and technical tools and cost structures will follow, giving farmers and other attendees the chance to build ventures that are economically sustainable. Attendees will gain technical knowledge on food handling and on preparing products derived from processing tomatoes, so they can generate income, grow their businesses and become sustainable.

The workshop will close with a motivational talk for all attendees, aimed at thanking them for their commitment to the programme, their participation and their passion for what they do. The objective is to train farmers, students and teachers to turn their raw material into finished products ready for sale, encouraging the development of local ventures built around the tomato.

The session will feature Mery Moreno, Research and Development Manager at Isola Foods, alongside leading specialists such as Juan Ignacio Aristeguieta, an economist from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello with a master's in agricultural finance from the University of Florida, who has a notable track record in agriculture as founder and former president of Venezuela's agricultural commodities exchange, BOLPRIAVEN.

Having passed the milestone of 1,000 beneficiaries in previous workshops, Siembra Esperanza expects to reach 1,200 beneficiaries nationwide by the close of this phase.

Since it began in 2023, this corporate responsibility programme has worked tirelessly to strengthen Venezuela's farming community. With this third edition, Isola Foods reaffirms that Siembra Esperanza is here to stay, with the firm purpose of sowing and harvesting more and better tomatoes for all Venezuelans.