The Gift of Destiny: Genesis of our Favorite Olives
Destiny often takes interesting turns, bringing together unexpected people and places. |  | |||||
But every once in a while, destiny plays out on a larger stage, uniting people from distant lands to touch the lives of countless people. In this instance, destiny brought a Spanish man and a German woman to a farm in South America's harshest desert, where they gave birth to five children, 5,000 olive trees, and perhaps the finest organic heirloom olives in the world, a legacy that will touch olive lovers worldwide for generations to come. | ||||||
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| Margit recalls that time in her life. “It was exciting and challenging moving to a new country, to a new continent – especially for me as I didn’t speak a word of Spanish." "We settled into the urban lifestyle of Lima, but in our hearts, we both loved the country and dreamed of having a weekend place outside of the city.” |
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| That day came in 1989 when the Vicos purchased 3 acres of land about an hour south of Lima in a desert valley near the sea. They built a house on the land, painted it white, and named their place Chacra Blanca or “White Farm.” Their intentions for a weekend retreat changed dramatically a year later when they were given the opportunity to buy 45 acres adjacent to their property. “Margit and I realized that with almost 50 acres, we had to get more serious about what to do with the land. There was absolutely nothing there. It was a desert and the air and soil were filled with salt.” For several years, the Vicos researched and investigated different ideas for their farm. | ||||||
 | Today, Pepe has a feeling it was his Andalusian roots that helped him come up with the idea of growing olives. “In Spain, olives are such an important part of our culture and our countryside – and so much of our delicious food uses its rich flavors." "They are resistant to salt and need very little irrigation – and, perhaps most important, I love to eat them. Olives were perfect!” | |||||
| Gradually, the weekend retreat became a serious hobby. And within a few years, it became a passion and full-time business. Having worked in the chemical industry for so many years, Pepe understood the damaging effects of chemicals and how they could contaminate food. He was determined to find the best ways of growing his olives organically. It took a lot of work, but his background in chemistry served him well. “While my wife was the cook in our kitchen, I became the cook in our fields.” So, while Margit created delicious, new recipes for dishes with olives, Pepe worked on innovative recipes for organic insecticides and compost. “I had the feeling that everything I needed to help the olive trees grow organically was right here on the farm. I just had to discover it.” | ||||||
 Having both spent time on farms as children, the Vicos always had a love for farm animals. Quite naturally, along with their domestic animals, they brought goats and sheep and horses to join their farm family. Pepe fed the farm animals organic feed and created a compost from the waste in a unique combination with the remains from the pruning of the olive trees. It takes a year for his compost to “cook,” but it provides the perfect nutrients for the soil without damaging the environment. For his insecticide, he uses a special spray made from an extract of olive leaves that he created in his own laboratory.  He also discovered the importance of a diversified environment. Chacra Blanca is filled with the fragrant scents of citrus, eucalyptus and fig trees that are planted among the olive trees, creating a biodiversity that is ideal for protecting the olives and enhancing their flavor. His organic methods also increased the yields with four to seven-year old trees producing as much as a typical twelve-year old tree. | ||||||
| Pepe didn’t realize at that time that his commitment to growing his olives without chemicals would establish Chacra Blanca as the first organic farm in Peru – and that his ideas would be so innovative for the organic olive industry. He was just doing what he loved best – creating delicious, healthy olives. | ||||||
 | The emigrated organic chemist shares with us the favorite aspects of his life at Chacra Blanca. “I enjoy watching how everything grows and knowing that out of nothing we have created this magnificent place, a green oasis with such beautiful produce that is also a wildlife refuge for birds and insects. And I particularly like creating new products from the olives, new ways to enjoy what we have to offer.” | |||||
 The Vicos’ wide selection of olives come in a unique brine that is made from very pure Peruvian spring water, the farm’s own aromatic organic spices, and Lima sea salt – known for its health quality. Olivico also offers extraordinary olive pastes, exceptional olive oil, and delicious dried fruits from the other trees planted on the farm.When Essential Living Foods (ELF) was looking for the best olives to offer their customers, they visited Chacra Blanca and knew that they had found a treasure. “I was amazed by the exquisiteness of the farm on every level – both in its physical beauty and in its structure and function,” says Christopher Daugherty, president and CEO of ELF. “That land has never had any chemicals on it, and the Vicos have nurtured this purity in everything that grows there.” | ||||||
 When asked about why she thinks Olivico olive products are so special, Margit is very clear when she answers. “I love to watch Pepe when he is out there in the fields. I know what a wonderful father he has been to our children, and I feel he gives that love to his trees.""I think that’s the real secret to why our olive products taste so good. Yes, there’s his special spray, his amazing biological compost, the picking by hand and the special brines that give the olives a wonderful flavor..." "But in all great recipes, love is always the most important ingredient. And his love goes into every one of those trees.” | ||||||
| With over 5,000 olive trees on their farm, that’s a lot of love. Olivico love. For the Vicos and for everyone who enjoys their products, it’s the gift of a great destiny. | ||||||
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