Luuk recently went on his very first work trip – and what a trip it was! The destination: Colombia. When Luuk heard he was going to Colombia, he was surprised. “I hadn’t expected this in my first year. As far as I’m concerned, I couldn’t have asked for a better first destination. Colombia is no stranger to Luuk. “I studied and lived in Medellín, and I have lots of friends in Colombia. It felt like I’d come full circle.” But this time he went with a completely different aim: to meet growers and experience avocado production at first hand.
It was his first business trip, so it was quite nerve-wracking at first, but once he arrived in Colombia, it immediately felt familiar. “The people are hospitable and open; everyone is welcome. Colombia is a beautiful and diverse country: from impressive landscapes to a rich culture with a variety of music and dance styles. And let’s not forget the cuisine, full of flavour and influences.”
Although he was already familiar with many places, he also discovered new regions. “A highlight was Valle del Cauca. Unfortunately, we couldn’t go to Cali, but we did see some lovely villages.”
The itinerary included visits to four growers, spread across three regions: Antioquía, Eje Cafetero (the coffee region) and Valle del Cauca. “We were due to visit five, but due to bad weather we couldn’t make it to the last one. Fortunately, we did see that grower a day earlier at the trade fair in Medellín.”
What made the biggest impression? “The avocado fields. You can see how hard people work and how everything grows. It makes the work tangible and motivates us even more to achieve the best results for our growers.”
One particularly memorable moment was spending the night at a grower’s finca. “That wasn’t just practical, but also good for building relationships.”
Luuk also had two unforgettable experiences. “We had to go to fields in Urrao, a five-hour drive from Medellín. Our grower arranged a small plane, so we were there in 25 minutes. I’d never been in such a small plane before, so that was very exciting, but wonderful! The view was breathtaking.”
And then there was the horse riding. “I come from a family of horse lovers and I love horses. We rode through the fields and later on a grower’s ranch. We even learnt some new riding manoeuvres.”
The trip was not only special, but also rewarding. “We were already working well with these growers, but spending time together and doing fun things has made the relationship even stronger.” And what has Luuk taken away from the experience? “A great deal of knowledge and gratitude. It was a trip full of insights, wonderful moments and strong connections.”
