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Hugo and Ana Bacalhau are two passionate about country life and for the quality of life it provides. Despite having “Bacalhau” in their name, their lives are spent on land and not at sea. They produce organic, fresh and safe Goji berries so that the consumer can have access to all the potential that this food brings. Interested? Come on with us to this trip to the Alentejo!
Nature, agriculture and the willingness to contribute to the change in mentalities regarding to food and ecological sustainability … … were the reasons that led the young cityman Hugo to want to change his life and switch the city for the countryside. As money “does not fall from trees", it was necessary to think on strategies to obtain means of income. He then decided to follow the principles that led him to choose the life in the countryside, to “give birth” to a project in Alentejo, unlike all the others that already exist in that area (vineyards, olive groves, etc.). The beginning of Hugo and Ana’s journey went through the small fruits but culminated in the Goji berries. Goji Natur was born with the purpose… … to respond to a need that existed in the Portuguese market, because the consumption of fresh and organic Goji berries was a reality unknown in Portugal, until the appearance of the brand. The berries that were on the market until then, entered the country from China and already dehydrated. Goji Natur provides to the Portuguese market access to a new, fresh, organic and safe food, and allows the reduction of the ecological footprint of many consumers who have started to purchase the berries directly on the national market. In addition to the production of Goji berries, Goji Natur… … also produces two processed foods, an organic Goji jam and spicy organic Goji jam. Goji Natur team is… … Hugo Bacalhau who is the promoter and responsible for the company and Ana Bacalhau who is responsible for the administrative part. For Goji Natur to be a sustainable business,… … they provide organic and nutritionally rich berries, which consumption is recommended for complete diets. The berries are of national and trustworthy origin, unlike some imported brands that, according to Deco Proteste in March 2019, some of their packaging contained residues above the maximum legal limits. They are also concerned with reducing consumers’ ecological footprint, as they promote proximity between producer and consumer. The national consumer’s mentality and purchasing… … are the main obstacles that Goji Natur finds in the development of its business. The production of Goji berries is a process that requires labor and extra care, which makes its final price higher, conflicting with the fact that purchasing in Portugal is low. In Portugal there is a thought of levity regarding the way food is produced, giving preference to cheaper food but with a much lower overall quality over more expensive food, but produced in a safe, healthy and “environmentally friendly way” ”. According to Hugo, “in Portugal, a lot of money is not yet spent on preventing possible health problems, but twice as much is spent on treating those same problems that arise from a poor diet". According to Goji Natur… … in Portugal, the organic food sector has been growing, but still the differences to the countries of Northern Europe are abysmal. In spite of everything, Goji Natur’s products have received a good reception from the national market, mainly from customers who are more informed about the themes of healthy and ecological food. To make food systems more sustainable, Goji Natur… … proposes a greater support from the Portuguese government for organic food producers, in order to democratize access to organic and healthy products. Greater citizens’ awareness is needed, starting with school children, about the type of food they consume, the possible dangers they can contain and the size of their supply chain’s ecological footprint. Let´s get to know more about Goji Natur on: Website: www.gojinatur.com Facebook: GojiNatur Instagram: @gojinatur Project video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ZdqGf_MmU Goji Natur on the radio: www.vozdaplanicie.pt/programas/34?episode=4232&fbclid=IwAR3NWrVtRIwAH4CJ6dQGcl0hhglhIo0E_4tSKDmKhJucsx94YAjmeXpYELI
Goji Natur –Goji berries from Vidigueira
