Hacienda Chorombo: Viera Martínez

Founded in 1989 by Mr. Gonzalo Bofill de Caso (1930–2007) and part of the Carozzi Group, Hacienda Chorombo is one of Chile’s leading agribusiness operations. With approximately 5,000 hectares of land, the company is dedicated to the production and export of walnuts, lemons, and olive oil, combining scale, efficiency, and long-term agricultural expertise.

Strategically located just 90 kilometers from Santiago and 60 kilometers from Chile’s two main export ports—Valparaíso and San Antonio—Hacienda Chorombo benefits from an optimal logistical position that supports its strong presence in international markets. In this interview, Viera Martínez shares insights into the company’s operations, export strategy, and vision for sustainable growth.

Could you introduce Hacienda Chorombo and its agricultural focus?
Founded in 1989 by Mr. Gonzalo Bofill De Caso (1930–2007) and part of the Empresas Carozzi holding, Hacienda Chorombo S.A. is an agro-industrial complex of approximately 5,000 hectares, located just 90 kilometers west of Santiago and 60 kilometers from Chile’s two main export ports: Valparaíso and San Antonio.
Hacienda Chorombo is primarily dedicated to fruit production, crops, livestock, and agro-industry.
Its operations are characterized by a high level of professionalism within its teams, together with respect for and care of the environment, which has enabled the company to achieve balanced productive development. As a result, the HACIENDA CHOROMBO brand has positioned itself and is recognized in all the markets where it operates for the excellent quality of its products, achieved through its distinctive control of processes from the very beginning of the production cycle through to the destination ports.
What differentiates your Chandler walnuts in international markets?
The Chandler walnuts produced by Hacienda Chorombo stand out from those of other markets (such as China and the USA) due to their exceptional quality. This is the result of continuous work in irrigation and fertilization, culminating in harvesting and drying processes that are fully managed to obtain a light (extra-light) color, which is the most sought after by importers of this product.
Unlike other markets where walnuts fall naturally and are collected by hand, at Hacienda Chorombo the process is mechanized. Once the walnuts reach the required maturity, each tree is vibrated so the walnuts fall, are quickly collected, and immediately sent to the drying plant.
How do fresh lemons and olive oil complement your export portfolio?
The holding company is constantly seeking to expand its portfolio in order to maintain ongoing challenges. For this reason, Hacienda Chorombo complements its dried fruits (walnuts) with lemons (fresh fruit) and olive oil (value-added olive production), aiming to diversify what it cultivates and produces while generating business opportunities throughout the year.
What sustainability practices guide your production?
Currently, Hacienda Chorombo uses technified irrigation across all its productive crops to ensure efficient water use. At the same time, it operates a wastewater treatment plant to process industrial water and return it in full to the orchards for irrigation.
The company is also part of the Clean Production Agreement led by ChileOliva (the association of olive oil producers and exporters), manages its carbon footprint, and uses biomass in boilers to heat process water. Future plans include solar energy management, with continuous innovation to support and align with a more sustainable future.
What type of buyers do you expect to connect with at Gulfood?
We expect to connect with B2B importers.