| Our
range of Yerba Maté, Teas and Herbal infusions come from the plantations of Las Marias in
Corrientes, Argentina. Las Marias is an integrated agricultural enterprise, which is the
world leader in Yerba Maté production and a renowned Tea and Herb Tea producer with some
4,000 Hectares cultivated for Yerba Maté alone with further areas for tea. The lowlands
not suited for yerba maté or tea cultivation, are important pine and eucalyptus
plantations, which are harvested for the wood mill. Cattle breeding, the firm's original
activity, is still a successful part of the business. Nature is
the source of the raw Matérials , so Las Marias lay special emphasis on the conservation
of the environment and preservation of wildlife including natural predators. In tea and
yerba cultivation, "Zero Tilling" is used as a strategy to avoid altering the
soil's natural balance and only biological agrochemicals, which do not harm the
environment are used. Organic farming techniques are now being introduced to allow the
introduction of organic produce.
Over
2,000 people live and work in Las Marias. They are the moving spirit of the business, and
the company helps provide primary education at the Victoria school for the children of Las
Marias employees and the Institute Agrotecnico offers secondary education and technical
training.
Close
to Las Marias housing for 170 families has been built and another 900 house were
constructed in Gobernador Virasoro, on land donated by Las Marias. This small community
has also a pharmacy and a medical service as well as a Club providing sporting and
recreational facilities for employees. |
