The Farmers
a.k.a. Los Tukadores
From the Earth
Doña Leli
Jorgelina González, known throughout the community as Doña Leli, was the first farmer to join Club Tukã in April of 2021. And it is not surprising that she was the first to commit. Leli has been passionate in her efforts to help her community since she founded a women’s organization that has been working together since 1998. Currently 60 strong, all members are mothers, with about 50% of them being single mothers. Leli and her group have been working with the Paraguayan office of the World Wildlife Fund, whose focus at a macro level includes protecting and restoring land within the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest Ecoregion. At a micro level, both the WWF and Tukã are in sync with efforts to assist rural farmers in doing just that by cultivating the same yerba mate that has traditionally grown wild in the forest region for centuries.
“We understand that the more successful Tukã becomes, the better we are all going to be. We look forward to grow by the hand of Tukã, primarily selling yerba mate, but also, in the future, other products that they might want to export from Paraguay...”
Leli’s daughter, Ninfa Villalba Gonzalez, has worked with her mother’s group for the past 13 years. She remembers her pride in seeing how her mother’s work empowered women in their community.
“… we are taking care of the native trees and harvesting them… The [number] of leaves harvested from these trees is equivalent to the harvest of 10,000 smaller trees that can be farmed on our properties… This harvest has to be made in a way that doesn’t hurt the trees but in fact helps them to grow stronger. Some of these wild trees are over 60 years old, most likely spread around by the Toucan birds, and it is very important for us to protect these native trees...”
“As a producer I have made a lot of sacrifices to produce organically. It is not something easy to do, but the difference in prices is much better. It is an opportunity to improve in life. That is what I see with this company. It has a social vision towards small producers which is different from other companies ...and that gives us strength.”
~Ernesto Morínigo Ramos
“We have a group of farmers that have always looked out for each other and have looked for better prices… we have found Tukã Company and this year has been great. The reward is to our families that work hard and sometimes don’t make ends meet … It is a powerful thing to work together and to join efforts; it is the only way to achieve all these goals.”
~Epifanio Javier Rios
“What we see, as farmers, is Tukã’s commitment to have a plan for each of us in our “fincas” so we can achieve the best production and the best quality so we can get the best price for our crops. These days prices are going up but [our pay] as yerbateros stays the same. And so I tell my fellow farmers if they have any doubts about this company, “Do not be afraid.” I encourage you to join this company and to work with Tukã.”
— Cantalicio Vera
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
~Aristotle
This 2,300 year old sentiment encapsulates the guiding principle behind Club Tukã ~ and perfectly describes the synergy that has developed among our 100 hand-selected Tukadores and Tukã team members. It also explains why we have a waiting list of farmers interested in joining Club Tukã if and when space becomes available. Together is better ...