Frutercoop and the Flowers of the Azores
Frutercoop, based in Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in the Azores, has been a trusted partner of Odilia for many years. In a recent interview with Paulo Rocha, the director of Frutercoop, and Tiago Freitas, the chief engineer, we had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of this exceptional cooperative.
The Origin of Frutercoop
Frutercoop started as a collaboration between banana farmers from São Sebastião (Terceira, Azores). Without proper storage facilities, they turned to the apple producers in the nearby village of Biscoitos for a solution. What began as a small group of growers quickly expanded into the cooperative that officially became Frutercoop in 1992.
Today, Frutercoop has around 150 members dedicated to cultivating products across four sectors: flowers, vegetables (including ready-to-eat packaged products), fruit, and honey. In each sector, Frutercoop upholds high standards, with a strong focus on hygiene and professionalism.
From Bananas to Blooms
While Frutercoop was originally known for its bananas, flower farming has become one of its core sectors. Today, they manage 44 hectares dedicated to flowers, with proteas and Leucospermum (nutans) being the standout products.
“The Azores offer the perfect environment for growing proteas,” says Tiago Freitas. “The unique climate here means we can grow proteas at a time when production in the southern hemisphere (like South Africa) is paused. Our season runs from February to April, while the southern hemisphere season starts later in the year.”
A Strong Partnership
Over the years, Frutercoop and Odilia have forged a strong relationship. “We’ve been working together for many years, and for us, it’s more than just a business relationship,” explains Paulo Rocha. “The values of Odilia align with ours. It’s not just about the quality of their products; it’s also about the trust and transparency we share. We can always count on Odilia, and that makes all the difference.”
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, Frutercoop is determined to keep growing. “We want to expand our production, but we’ll always maintain the same focus on quality,” says Tiago Freitas. “We’re also working towards achieving GLOBAL GAP certification for our protea sector to ensure the highest quality standards are met.”
