The Fruits of Pica Export Company is located in «The Oasis of Pica», which is unique in Chile and it is located in the middle the Atacama Desert, the driest and most extreme in the world.
Agriculture was and is the economic basis of the oasis
From the Atacama Desert, in the midst of ancient dunes, emerge from deep in the ground, semi hot springs and groundwater, which allows the formation of the Pica OASIS and flourishing life, culture, and identity around agriculture favored by unique growth conditions. Its various fruits produced off-season have exceptional organoleptic characteristics, delivering aromas, flavors, textures and unique sweetness, and sharing its fame in different markets.
Historical Background
The first signs of human settlement in this area date from 6000 BC and are associated with the Salar del Huasco, by hunter-gatherer habits who inhabited caves and rock shelters near the Huasco lagoon, now a salt flat. Later, human settling occured in the oasis to the 800 AD in sites located in Santa Rosita and Matilla (Pica), linked to farm work to consolidate what has been termed as the lordship of Pica. Relics and historical legacy can be found in different parts of this territory: its paleontological wealth at Chacarillas ravine, with footprints of Dinosaurs, which are unique in northern Chile, has a wealth of petroglyphs and geoglyphs left by the pre-Hispanic cultures.
The Meeting of Cultures
Pica and Matilla were known by the Spanish expeditions of Diego de Almagro and Pedro de Valdivia (1536-1540), after which, from the work associated to the mines of Huantajaya, the oasis was inhabited by Spaniards, who began the planting of vineyards with successful development along with the booming of the mining activity in the area. This was the subject of a major migration of Spanish families from the north and east, toward Pica during the mid-eighteenth century. The period between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries is considered as the most populous area ever. Pica was a producer of food and liquor which were sent to Peru, allowing the maintenance of a stable population in the area. Many legacies were left by the coming of this culture through the territory, leaving architecture, irrigation technology and introduction of new agricultural species in the Oasis.
Geographical location of Pica
The surface of Pica is 8934.3 km2 and has a population density of 1.3 Inhabitants / Km2. To the north, it borders the commune of Colchane, with the commune of Pozo Almonte to the West, with the Second Region to the south and the Republic of Bolivia to the east.
