SEMENTE
SEMENTE
HOW MANY CHILI PEPPERS DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY?
Monte Alverne Farm, built in the 19th century by Colonel José Justiniano Tolledo, married in 1854 to Francisca Umbelina Gonçalves de Souza, parents of Querubina Maria de Tolledo, who was married to Colonel Gomes de Faria Alvim.
The first member of the family to rummage through the soil and to lay seeds in this part of Zona da Mata region in Minas Gerais state, was Colonel José Justiniano de Tolledo. He built the Monte Alverne Farm in the 19th century, when he married Francisca Umbelina Gonçalves, in 1854. They are the parents of Querubina Maria Tolledo Alvim, who would later marry Colonel Gomes de Faria Alvim, José Faria Alvim’s father and Dário Alvim’s great-grandfather.
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In this extensive family tree, the common fondness persists for the land and for the cultivation of coffee and cereals that have, since then, brought great activity to the Monte Alverne farms, then Boa Vista Farm and Agropecuária Gizé.
Enjoying implementing features and seeking alternatives also seem to be in the genes of this family, whose tradition is to be brave and pathfinders. By the end of the 18th century, Dario Alvim's great-grandfather already harvested and processed coffee in an electric machine – the farm's greatest achievement by that time. Being so modern and technological was almost an outrage. Little did he know that his great-grandson, Dario Alvim, would inherit the same courage and expertise.
New decades and challenges have come, new technologies, but Agropecuária Gizé keeps the same taste for learning and doing things. Leading the Faísca Products company, Dário teaches us such appreciation for studying, getting to know things and constantly keeping himself up to date.
Querubina Maria de Tolledo Alvim
Col. Gomes de Faria Alvim
And so, Faísca brand has stood out, attentive to the world’s moves and flexible to them.
If it means growing and improving, we are ready and willing to reinvent ourselves every day.
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Every day, there is a good novelty to be implemented around here, so we can grow and get better at what we do. We need to be open to these novelties in order to understand the constantly changing market demands.
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AGROPECUÁRIA GIZÉ TODAY
THE CULTIVATION OF PEPPER
The extensive pepper plantations grew strong on the fertile land of Zona da Mata region, in Minas Gerais state. The gentle wind bends the branches loaded with the fruits of this work performed by autonomous producers with great competence and dedication.
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Dário planted the first plants in 1970. In 1977, with his brothers, he began with cultivation, enabling the creation of jobs in Guarani, in addition to contributing to the job offer in the neighboring cities.
In 1979, after facing great difficulties in planting, in addition to natural obstacles of the segment, the brand ‘Produtos Faísca’ (Faísca Products) was officially registered. Since then, Dário has been studying the behavior of the plants, the market and the consumer. Attentive to the smallest details, even today, at the age of 80, he keeps the discipline of arriving early at the production line of chili pepper bottles filled with Faísca products.
Today, Produtos Faísca Indústria e Comércio Ltda, has become one of the most important pepper suppliers in the Brazilian market. For two decades, they offered sauces and fresh chili pepper to various consumption segments in the country, keeping a 30 ton/year average processing.
"In the beginning, we faced great difficulties, with almost insurmountable barriers, for both planting and industrialization. But with dedication, perseverance and commitment, we developed the industrial aspect until we reached the consumer market in São Paulo state. After 30 years in the Brazilian market, we have reached the foreign market". Dário Alvim
After conquering the Brazilian market, Dário Alvim realized that his company was finally ready to take bolder steps towards the international market. The goal has always been to improve, using all possible means to make Faísca Products more competitive and able to open the doors of international market.
It took us years of testing, adjustments and improvement until the first batch of sauces was exported in 2010. The doors no longer closed and have been showing signs every day, with increasing possibilities.
"Despite being a small agroindustry, we have reached the top with the quality certificate granted by the Parve Kosher Rabbinate, and the U.S. FDA registration. We underwent an audit by NSF, which granted us authorization to export ensuring that the products we manufacture are safe and we that we managing from the origin of the ingredients to the production process". Dario Alvim