Lucumí grinds tomatoes at full speed (+photos) – Escambray

The small industry in Sancti Spiritus produces puree for direct sale to the population and organizations that demand it.

Lucumí, the small factory linked to the Food Industry sector in Sancti Spíritus that is responsible for the production of pulps, jams and preserves, works like clockwork, although these days it stands out for the production of tomato puree for free sale. to the population, either in bulk or packaged in different types of containers.

The people of Sancti Spiritus are lucky to have this plant, which processes all the tomatoes coming from the cooperative and peasant sector of the municipality, according to Máximo González Díaz, the administrator, who explained to Escambray that since the campaign began this month they have not lacked raw materials, which allows between 3 and 4 tons of puree to be produced daily.

He explained that this year they are working as part of a cooperative production with the Urban Farm Unit of the Sancti Spíritus Integral Company, which allows the marketing of the assortments at points of sale of said entity, although they also offer the assortment at the Lucumí headquarters itself. .

“We are talking about sealed 3.6-kilogram cans of puree for a value of 540 pesos, while through the Urban Farm it is offered in bulk at a rate of 200 pesos per liter,” explained the administrator.

More than 25 tons of puree have been produced so far this month by the small Lucumí collective, which receives the raw material at its own headquarters or searches for it in production settings, as stated in the contracts previously drawn up.

“Every year we take on the task of visiting the producers who usually supply us with tomatoes, at that time we establish the first premises of the negotiation and make it clear that the transfer is at our expense; That has been a guarantee so that there is no shortage of raw materials, although if there is someone who wants to bring it directly to the industry, we also receive it,” explains González Díaz.

The commitment of Lucumí workers is to grind all the tomatoes that are collected in the territory, as long as it is possible to purchase them. In this way they would ensure not only the continuity of the productions, but also the salaries of the members of the group.

Likewise, it was learned that, once the tomato campaign was over, the small industry would start processing guava, mango and other fruits to produce different types of jams or pulps and, if they did not have enough raw materials, they would enroll in the making pickles and other preserves, a strategy that will allow them to stay active throughout the year.