Over 100 years ago, my great-grandfather immigrated to Patagonia and built a successful sheep breeding business. When he found he couldn’t get products shipped to Europe, he solved the problem by founding a shipping company. That same drive of resilience and innovation forms the base of our family businesses today, including CIS Agro, where I serve as CEO.
A family business is an extension of the family itself, creating a strong drive to uphold a reputation that reflects well on both. When you choose to work with a family business, you become part of their legacy, and there are benefits that come with that.
One benefit is that family businesses’ decision-making is based on a long-term vision of sustainable growth and lasting impact, rather than immediate returns for shareholders. This puts the priority on relationship building. Our hope is to work with each client for years, not just a season, so we prioritize personal connection, transparent communication, and genuine commitment to your success. While you might work directly with a family member, we also empower our employees to deliver that same level of quality care.
We can also offer quick solutions. Being a family business means we can pivot quickly. Maybe we could use an additional agronomist or a new piece of machinery. Perhaps a new opportunity arises for an investment that wasn’t in the budget. There is no bureaucracy to navigate to address these challenges and opportunities in a timely manner.
Along with our commitment to growth and client success, we live where we operate, and care deeply about the people and the environment. This connection shapes the way we do business — from hiring locally whenever possible, to supporting community initiatives, to assessing environmental impacts of our practices. This deep-rooted connection allows us to offer more than just services; it means you’re supporting a business that truly cares about the people and the place it operates in.
Just as our family businesses have continuously adapted to challenges and opportunities, our commitment to our community and future generations remains unwavering. We want to ensure our family business is a legacy for our next generation to continue. My brother, Javier, recently joined CIS Agro and oversees farm management. My hope is our love of this business is passed along, and the next generation will care for CIS Agro in the future.
Whether you’ve worked with a family business or built one of your own, I’d love to hear about the benefits you’ve experienced. After all, strong relationships and shared stories are what keep family businesses thriving.
