Cooperativa Agricola Sociale Calafata

2009 – Origins of an idea\nLorenzo Chiti proposed that the diocesan Caritas of Lucca present a social project to restore 3 hectares of vineyards belonging to a family business whose future concerned him. His idea matched the hopes of a young group of innovative friends.\n\n### Formation\nA demanding year of ideas, discussions and exploring possible directions followed the initial proposal, leading to the cooperative's official foundation in 2011.\n\nIts work was built around the idea of "rescuing" neglected land and supporting vulnerable people, together with a wish to explore new ways of developing the area through a civic economy. This marked the beginning of the cooperative's story.\n\n### First decade and growth\nDuring its first ten years, Calafata gained many trusted partners and valuable skills. In 2015 it became part of the large international Triple "A" family. In 2020, its social work received recognition that led to the next step: becoming a community cooperative.

Alongside winemaking and grape growing, the cooperative grows vegetables and olives, works in horticulture and keeps bees.

Calafata describes itself as a place that aims to combine love and care for the land with practical ways to do business and grow in communities facing marginalization and hardship. The cooperative states that it brings together product quality, responsible care for the land and an active role for the people who work there. It brings together specialists in social development, agriculture and livestock farming, communications, tourism, trade and alternative economic models, each contributing time and experience to make the cooperative more effective, diverse and thoughtful in every detail. Its work was built around the idea of "rescuing" neglected land and supporting vulnerable people, along with a wish to explore new ways of developing the area through a civic economy.