The Vanilla Republic team is comprised of passionate individuals who believe in the work we do.
Based in Opelika, Alabama, USA, and the Chute District of the State of Guayas, Ecuador, we operate with a diversely experienced team dedicated to the production of the best vanilla in the world.
With a background in business and marketing, Heidi’s experience of managing groups of individuals and projects to realize desired end-goals has proven successful time and again. She has the skillfulness to cast vision and put processes in place to accomplish goals and achieve the highest degree of success.
Esteban Ochoa Herrera, an agricultural engineer, has worked in temperate-climate agriculture and intensive greenhouse crops such as rice, watermelon, peppers, strawberries, and kidney tomatoes. He served as a technician of the agnition line at Ralco Nutritions in Latin America, with experience in soil conservation and the reintroduction of influential microorganisms in agriculture. In recent years, his focus has been on the production of high-quality regenerative organic composting and the implementation of Grade-A organic vanilla crops through sustainable agricultural methods.
Francisco José Andino Encalada, an agricultural engineer, has worked in temperate- climate fruit growing for the Government of Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animals (MAGAP) Undersecretariat of Land. He was a member of the scientific team involved in the Bio-Agriculture Project within the Galapagos Islands. In recent years, he has focused on the production of high-quality organic composting and the proprietary method for perfecting the growth of Grade-A organic vanilla.
