History

Venus Growers was founded that year. It began as a cooperation of farmers distributing fruits and vegetables (especially peaches) domestically and abroad.

15 farmers become members from all country.
Began its activities by operating the public cool storage facilities in the area.
The first year results exceeded all expectations.

During second year the number of the members grew to 54 and the next year to 83 while the interest of the farmers to join the coop was ongoing and increasing.

During 1966-1968 Venus Growers completed the contrcuction of cold stogare-packing facilities through its own funding.

In 1975 VENUS goes beyond its initial objectives and becomes a leading player in the export of fresh fruit, by transporting significant amounts of products on a commission basis even for non-members. The Consortia Statute of Venus Growers is the basis of operation of the consortia that era.

In 1983 VENUS and farmers consortiums due to the incentives given to cooperative organizations and the amendment of the cooperative law and typically take the form into a cooperative.

The arboriculture is growing rapidly.
The trade moves to a different direction.
The cold storage packing facilities increase in number.
Parallel professions are growing (Fruit-crates companies, plastics companies, transport companies, etc.).
The Prefecture of Imathia becomes the focal point / the trading center of agricultural products (due to logistic infrastructure).
The employment of labour personnel in businesses as well as in fields is growing.

In 1990 the company decides to invest in processing. The first canning plant started its operation in 1992.

From the first year, Venus Growers is approved by the international market for the unique quality of its products.

In 1998 acquires its second 'child'. Venus Growers purchases the factory in Alexandria town (28 km from Veria factory and Headquarters) which is fully modernized. This results the fact that Venus Growers installations in Veria and Alexandria are the largest ones in the Greek industry.

The trading volumes of fresh fruit are about 35,000 tons and the canned products are about 30,000 tons which are mainly exported to Europe, America, Far East, and Australia.

The canning capacity is 40,000 tons. The cooperative currently has 650 natural persons and 10 legal entities (Cooperatives).

By its participation in:

absorption of fresh agricultural products,
foreign sales,
automation of production and recording,
number of members
international exhibitions and collaborations,
employment of workforce (Approx 1800 Average seasonal and 60 permanent)

Venus Growers becomes one of the largest export and agro industrial cooperatives in Greece.

In 2008 Venus Growers invests in fruit juice production line facility in Alexandria for further processing.

The processing capacity and trading rises on 10,000 tons of fresh fruit and 60,000 tons of processed products after the programming of plantation of new varieties of various deciduous fruits.

Today VENUS GROWERS is leading worldwide in canned fruits due to its long persistence, work, imagination and love of the contributing members for the creation of high nutritional value products.

Goals & Vision

The quality policy of Venus Growers is the cornerstone for achieving its objectives. All managers are responsible for ensuring the objectives while seeking continuous improvement of products and services.

Venus Growers objective is:

To produce high and stable quality products

The fully controlled conditions of hygiene and production safety

To provide maximum handling services

The high level of efficiency

To achieve this objective includes:

Personnel with high education

Excellent organization

Advanced technology equipment

Vision

The vision of Venus Growers is the maximum customer satisfaction by offering the highest quality products and efficient service.

To accomplish that seeks to:

Increase the profitability in order to encourage growers - members to improve and expand their operations.

To develop new products based on fruit, in order to encourage new consumers to consume healthy food and products.

To support the management and staff with continuous training and encouraging the development of individual initiatives with aim to improve the process and production quality.

To provide high level of working conditions and ensuring effective communication at all levels.

Agricultural Cooperative

Venus Growers is a member at the :

Chamber of Imathia
Exporters' Association of Northern Greece. (SEVE)
Union of Hellenic Canning Industry
National Inter-professional Organization of Industrial Peach and Pear

It has also developed partnerships with:

The Ministry of Agriculture, regarding the development of new varieties, as well as programmes of integrated management in the primary production
Universities and Research Institutes (R&D)
Customers for raising and developing new products
Suppliers for advancing new production methods
Producers for the development and implementation of new farming methods.

Enviroment

VENUS GROWERS showing a great interest in the growing environmental requirements, has thus developed an Environmental Management System. At the same time VENUS GROWERS proceeded to the functioning of the agricultural exploitation according to the requirements of the Integrated Management System.

Environmental Policy:

The VENUS GROWERS which operates in the field of fruit processing and production of fruit compote decided to draw up an environmental business ISO 14001 system to demonstrate its interest in continuing and growing environmental requirements. Therefore, it adopts a more general environmental policy in the light of the importance of environmental protection, the optimal management of natural resources and the continuous environmental monitoring of the activity.

The environmental policy of the company covers all production processes and laying the foundations for reducing the environmental impact of its activities and the promotion of a more general philosophy of environmental protection. The company is committed to implement environmental programs which aim at the accomplishment of the following objectives:

Compliance with the existing (national and European) legislation for environmental protection;
Information and education of the staff in order to actively participate in the environmental business system developed by the company;
Identification of the environmental aspects and the environmental objectives and targets, which are reviewed annually in accordance with the company's commitment to a continual improvement in environmental issues;
Provision of information to other organizations with the aim of improving the environmental awareness of their own businesses and reducing their environmental impact;
Implementation of an environmental business system that will have as a primary goal to continuously improve the environmental presence of the business;
Better management of the energy, natural resources and the materials needed to meet the needs of the production process;
Sorting of the waste at source, at all stages of the production process;
Forward of all the waste streams in legally licensed waste management operators for recovery (energy production, composting) or recycling, according to the legislation;
Regular pollutant gas measurements for the protection of the atmosphere;
Regular wastewater measurements for the water protection;
Regular maintenance of the mechanical equipment to prevent environmental accidents.

This environmental policy is communicated and implemented by all the employees of the company and it is monitored through frequent reviews by the Managing Body to confirm its relevance and effectiveness. The Environmental Policy is available to the public through the website of our company.

Veria, 22nd of February, 2016, Re-2

The President of the Council

Health and Safety at Work policy:

The Health and Safety at Work is the cornerstone for achieving the objectives of VENUS GROWERS. The company has developed and implemented the Health and Safety at Work System based on the requirements of OHSAS 18001 International Standard while simultaneously it is commited to comply with the applicable (national and European) legislation and other regulatory requirements.

The company's goal is the Design, the Manufacturing and the Marketing of Processed Fruit, zero accidents and zero impact on workers' health.

The administration is committed to comply with the Health and Safety at Work system and the continuous improvement of its performance, which is monitored through objective and quantifiable metrics. Moreover, it is committed to provide the necessary resources for Health and Safety at Work.

All employees have been informed and are responsible for implementing the health and safety system at work while making continuous efforts to improve its performance.

The company's management undertakes the obligation to provide every employee with all the necessary resources, facilities, special equipment, personal protective equipment, training and anything else that is required to ensure the direct participation of all employees in the company's effort to continuously improve the work conditions and the quality of life of the workers.

The company's management is committed to continuously improve the performance of the Health and Safety at Work Management System and also the prevention of injuries and diseases of workers.

To achieve this continuous improvement of the care of the health and safety at work, everyone in the company should constantly aim to make the best use of the work, within his or her capabilities, and to comply with the established procedures.

At the annual review of the Health and Safety at work Management System this policy may be modified depending on the needs of the company and in light of the continuous improvement of the company’s performance in health and safety.

Veria, 22nd of February, 2016 Re-1