Friend of the Sea project further expands in South America as major mussels producer Toralla has been certified Friend of the Sea. Toralla’s mussel range is growing extensively and they are also available in supermarkets in Europe and elsewhere.
Toralla, S.A. is a family company set up in 2000 based in Chonchi, on the isle of Chiloé, Chile. Through its subsidiary, Cultivos Toralla, Toralla manages farming of over 250 hectares of sea. Mussels are gathered using long-line farming methods. By applying latest technologies to each stage of the process, Toralla harvests 12 thousand tonnes of mussels per year which are then sold globally.
All Environmental Impact Assessments run at the sites have concluded positively. Toralla respects the seabed by periodically cleaning under the mussel lines. The large volume of solid waste (basically shells) generated during the production process, is appropriately treated at the Lime Plant. Here the shells are converted, into a new end product: whiting, which is commercialized on the market as natural fertilizer for the land.
To reduce its carbon footprint Toralla prefers to ship all products over the world by sea. The company has a strict energy reduction plan in place and two years ago has changed from fuel to liquid gas as main energy source for processing. It also takes seriously its social responsibility by sponsoring the cleaning up of beaches, supporting local schools and promoting sports and healthy lifestyles.
Toralla is HACCP and PAC certified in strict compliance with the regulations on critical point control and quality assurance. It has also achieved the BRC Global Standards certification for safety and quality.
“Being part of the Friend of the Sea project gives our customers a clear message. Sustainability and social responsibility are our priorities.” states Mr Sergio Leiro O. – General Manager of Toralla.
