Family business in 1902 then President Germán Riesco Errazuriz, had approved the construction of the La Serena-Rivadavia, in the Elqui Valley, as an extension of the service of the State Railways. At that time was serving as priest in the village of Comberton before the priest named Don Gabriel Artigues, who apparently saw as before, would be the architect of the arrival of his countrymen to the region. Add that at that time the Balearics had suffered heavy losses in their crops and vineyards, the product of a prolonged drought affecting their lands.
Truth be told, these Mallorcan knew much of agriculture and vineyards, but no rail and sleepers, so promptly abandoned this work, spreading through the interior valleys of Elqui Limarí and where aware of the great potential that these were for agribusiness vineyards, set their sights on major agricultural estates in the region, beginning first as sharecroppers or tenants and, years later, thanks to the gains of hard work, end up access to full property.
The Mallorcan population outside vintners his skills, he was also known for his skill in shoemaking, another of the guidelines that derive some families of those named, as Obrador in La Serena and Ovalle Gomila.
In Limarí area, there were some families who have been Majorcan origin very noticeable, always linked to their ancestral origin of vintners and distillers of industrial trade, as we recently reported Rodrigo Carmona (Looks Vineyard, 2010). Of these we found some background notary, which are illustrative of the process that was its home ownership of large tracts of agricultural land in our Limarí Valley.
In Ovalle, on 22/05/1909, Mr. Onofre Juliá Gomila, Mrs. Rosa Cerda Cavada leased , owner domiciled in La Serena, a vineyard and a paddock with everything built for the office located in the Rapel. The lease was agreed for a period of nine years, forced to both, with a fee or annual income of $ 800 pesos, payable for the year ahead system.
Already on 27/02/1922, Mr. Onofre acquires hijuela in Rapel, with everything planted and water rights, uses and easements, the saleswoman was Mrs. Emma de Laire vda. Vallejos, mandadora themselves as their children. The value amounted to the sum of $ 27,000.
The year 1926 in that sector acquires Rapel, the hijuela "Under The Take", which had a 4 ½ hectares vineyard., House, room and cellar. Was worth $ 85,000, and the owner was the Honorable Ovalle Welfare Board, who in turn had been favored by Masnata family heirloom. Later in 1928, acquired the farm "El Manzano" Sr. Roberto Iriarte Pinto Pinto and children.
Meanwhile, Sr. Juan Jaime Prohens and uncle Sr. Juan Artigues Gomila, Sr. Gaspar Suarez leased part of his farm Monte Patria, which was composed of pastures: The Peñon, Los Pozos, Los Hornos, La Mesa, El Pichonal, Los Cabritos and La Vega. The agreed deadline was 6 years, with an annual income of $ 3,500 pesos for the first two years, and $ 5,400 for the next four. The document was signed in Ovalle on 04/05/1912.
Later the year 1917, Sr.Jaime Prohens, alone, acquires all rights to the estate of "Mal Paso", the Muñoz family descendants. The values were set at $ 61,749 and $ 33,250 pesos in two agreements.
In 1956 Rafael Guillermo Prohens Sommella takes over the farm cart in Monte Patria, where the first plant export grapes with seeds in the province Limarí was always beside his wife Maria Ines Figari Barrera, in 1982 purchased he founded the Rock and export plants seedless grapes, 1988 St. Bernadette buy the plot and planted grape seeds to produce alcohol (pisco), in 1989 begins the diversification of the company, are planted 41 hectares of clementines clemenules variety. In 1990 their children Maria Paula Prohens Figari, Nicolas Rafael Figari Prohens and Juan Eduardo Prohens Figari , start working in the company and assist in the growth of this, in 2005 Rafael Guillermo Prohens Sommella, he sold the company to his sons , in 2011 begins to try other species such as the grenade. They seek other markets and goes all the effort of the company to have a premium product.
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It is a producer and exporter of fresh fruit of the highest quality, with full control of all stages of their management and thus be a reliable supplier for importers and customers. Company policy and Co. Rafael Prohens. Ltd. It is based on the following objectives:
Being leaders in producing export fruit quality of our products, working in harmony and respect for the environment while maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with employees, customers, contractors, suppliers, and neighboring communities. Producing a superior product with the highest standards of efficiency, with a commitment to develop sustainable agriculture economically viable long term, ecological, health friendly and highly humanitarian.