Woman power, enthusiasm and love for organic certified fruits and vegetables, that's what Anieska Reynaldo values when it comes to her company Tropcat. Under the product name "Naya," she imports organically grown fruits and vegetables from Central and South America and Spain for the German market. "We don't compete with regional German products with this, because pineapples, oranges and limes are not grown here, but we complement the range," Anieska Reynaldo explains .
Tropcat is not only a specialist in organically grown fruits and vegetables, but will soon also be Fair Trade certified. For example, many products come from an agricultural cooperative of 12 certified organic farmers in Colombia who supply limes and exotics. From Spain come citrus fruits, melons and stone fruits, which complete the assortment and are sold in Germany in colorful boxes with many fruit varieties directly to the end consumer.
The Tropcat team
"I love these colorful boxes," says Anieska Reynaldo. Tropcat has become a member of Agrobusiness Niederrhein. Dr. Anke Schirocki and Simone de la Motte from Agrobusiness Niederrhein met with Anieska Reynaldo and Anita Bojko to discuss cooperation issues so that the network can work effectively for Tropcat. Anieska Reynaldo comes from Cuba and is now wholeheartedly at home in the Lower Rhine region. "When I'm on the road, after a few days I look forward to coming home again quickly and that is the Lower Rhine. I love the landscape and especially the people here."
Limes as a trademark
She has her company headquarters in Alpen. From her office with adjoining storage space and small sales outlet, she and Anita Bojko will organize the purchasing, transport, sales and quality assurance of the products. Limes are one of Tropcat's specialties. They are sold not only through the colorful boxes, but also through retail outlets. "Some have their own packaging," explains Anieska Reynaldo, "others use our paper packaging with our Naya cat."
The Naya 
cat was painted by Anieska Reynaldo herself and she also shows it on her T-shirt.
The two are full of plans, which they are realizing little by little. The colorful boxes are offered to the end consumer with many different types of fruit in the Lower Rhine region via farm shops. Once a week, they also open the doors of their store in Alpen. "The residents here already know us very well. At regional festivals, we introduce ourselves and can thus establish a personal relationship with our local customers," Anita Bojko explains. There are no subscriptions. Instead, everyone buys what they need at the time.
In the process, the question "Is this really organic?" comes up again and again from customers. Anieska Reynaldo and Anita Bojko can clearly answer in the affirmative. The supply chain is documented from cultivation to sale and regularly inspected externally. Nowhere is the produce allowed to come together or be mixed with conventional produce. Checks of the products for ingredients before sale also contribute to product safety. These high standards must be consistently adhered to.
Expanding the product range is the order of the day
Anieska Reynaldo and Anita Bojko bring a great deal of expertise to the company. Anieska Reynaldo is a wholesale and export merchant and has lived and worked in various countries such as Spain and France. In Germany they appreciate the good organization, also from the official side. Anita is an ecotrophologist and has worked for many years in sales as well as in shipping and logistics. This combination and the love for the products drive the two ladies and lead to a high quality standard in their work.
In the future, more exotic fruits will be added to the assortment. "We have many plans," explains Anieska Reynaldo. Dr. Anke Schirocki is convinced that Tropcat will implement many more innovative ideas. "There are many topics on which we can cooperate with Tropcat in the Lower Rhine agribusiness network," adds Simone de la Motte, "we will start with one of the next entrepreneurs' breakfasts, where Tropcat will introduce itself to the other network participants."
For more information:
Anieska Reynaldo
A & S Tropcat GmbH
Burgstr. 37
DE-46519 Alpen
Tel.: +49 (0)2802 - 89 49 180
anieska@tropcat.com
www.tropcat.de
www.agrobusiness-niederrhein.de