Juan Santos is the head of Agropecuaria Vera Vieja, the livestock farm that is part of the Aljomar Group. He has been in charge of the Animal Production area for nine years, responsible for initiating the controlled production cycle, from raising and feeding the acorn-fed Iberian pigs. He assures us that these animals live wonderfully... in total freedom and with zero responsibilities, "just like my daughters," he jokes. How long have you worked at the Aljomar Group? Nine years . What is your position and what are your responsibilities? My position is Animal Production, and my responsibilities encompass everything involved in raising and feeding the pigs: from birth until they are loaded onto the truck and transported to Guijuelo. A new acorn season is beginning; what are the expectations for this year? Good, with the prospect of being excellent. Do we have good acorns? Yes, and they are large because it has rained quite a bit in recent days, which is perfect for the pastures.
What sets the Vera Vieja livestock farm apart from others I've seen? The dedication and consistency in the daily work and the excellent care given to the pigs at all times. At ALJOMAR, we're taught to pay attention to every detail and prioritize the animals' well-being to obtain the highest quality meat, hams, and shoulders.
He is responsible for starting Aljomar's production cycle, beginning with the raising of Iberian pigs on the farm. How do the animals live and grow here? They live like my daughters, with many rights and none of the obligations (laughs). Here, the acorn-fed Iberian pigs enjoy a good diet every day and walks among the ponds and streams on each property. How many hectares of pastureland do you "control"? Approximately 40,000 hectares. What qualities do these landscapes have that make them unique? The pastureland—each pastureland is unique—the pigs have large spaces to move freely and feed on the acorns provided by our holm oaks and cork oaks. Do you think that other countries, like China or the USA, will one day "copy" the raising of Spanish Iberian pigs? Is it possible? No, we have conditions that these countries find impossible to achieve. What is your favorite Aljomar product? The Tributo Don Alfonso Acorn-Fed Iberian Ham. Who would you give a good TRIBUTO Don Alfonso acorn-fed Iberian ham to? Myself, why would I lie to you, hahaha. What is your relationship like with the founder of Aljomar, Don Alfonso Sánchez, and his sons? Loyal, honest, and friendly . Do you have any anecdotes about him? Yes, many with Alfonso; we spend many hours together, but one I'll never forget is the day I asked him what his hobby was and he answered: "WORKING." And with his son José Luis, I remember a Montanera (acorn season) when he came with Basilio and Alfonso. We went to visit one of our most beautiful estates: Los Quintos. José Luis and Basilio got in the back of the car, and between them was Pablo, the farm's swineherd, who showed us the pigs and the acorns. During the visit, Basilio and José Luis were working on their Blackberries, taking orders, etc. We finished the drive and the three of them left. When I was left alone with Pablo, I saw he was very serious and I asked him what he thought of them and he said: "Very bad, they are like children, they spent the whole trip playing with 'the machines ' and didn't look at the holm oaks."
