Our featured director this time is Monica Reyes of Montevideo, Uruguay. Monica is a member of Los Horneros nursery, AIGN®’s Uruguayan member. Monica is a director for AIGN®.
Reyes’ founding family settled in Melilla, near Montevideo, in 1901 when ‘Don Batista’ bought a field of 5 hectares, built his house, and quickly began the planting of fruit orchards and vineyards.
There were times of heavy manual labor and little mechanization, but endowed with great wisdom, all involved combined work and family values. Subsequent generations continued the development of new orchards, the purchasing of new fields, integration of machinery, packing plant construction, and the implementation of sales logistics for the production.
To make the transformation of this family activity into an actual family business, Mr. Felipe Reyes Cirio (Monica’s father) vertically integrated the major activities of the productive horticultural cycle.
The process of gradual and structured transformation that Mr. Reyes pushed into the family business, is now an example of management based on the implementation of good practices and the development of competitive advantages. This process generates a source of value for its members and stakeholders.
The main activities of the business are comprised of: nursery activities of deciduous fruit, fruit production in the family members own orchards, a selection center, packing and refrigerating fruit for local markets as well as export, and the collection of fruit of more than 60 growers.
Today, the fifth generation (comprised of Monica and her 5 brothers), are carefully and strategically organized in order to address the promotion of a quality management system that integrates the standards and procedures for the development of Good Agricultural Practices in compliance with the standards of quality and safety established. They are also continually working toward the development of competitive advantages 
with the same enthusiasm and passion for the horticultural activity that Mr. Felipe Reyes was able to convey with great intelligence based on the values of loyalty and respect. 
Felipe Reyes
Felipe Reyes physically disappeared on November 15, 2008. It was a surprise for his family, friends, and for the fruit sector who, from that day, feel the missing of a fundamental pillar of renewal, energy, and dynamism in the sector.
It was a challenge for the children of Felipe Reyes who now faced the management of the business; an activity that was always jointly made with their father. Today, while being sure that their father is leading them, the family faces the decisions of the various events within the organization.
Felipe Reyes was an exceptional man in every sense. He was a model father who trained the members of his family to be very strong, safe, and responsible.
In a world with so many changes, he always anticipated his actions by taking initiative and anticipating his next step. His vision was always very clear and accurate and built a great “family team”.
This view as challenging, but credible and motivating and this was how he conveyed his enthusiasm.
He had his goals very well established and found in his family an active participation in all the activities and projects, making them feel the goals as their own.
Today, Alejandro, Horacio, and Monica Reyes manage the company and are the contacts of it.