VEL

The Social Cooperative Vel, established in 2016, is active in the Tuscia region and, since its inception in April 2017, has embarked on a path of growth and development within the Social Consortium Il Mosaico, a consortium organization present in the Province of Viterbo. Initially, the cooperative started a cleaning service for the Monteromano s.c.a.r.l. construction site, employing a disadvantaged worker. This was the first step towards social inclusion through work.

Subsequently, the cooperative collaborated with the Municipality of Bomarzo for the management of the School Bus service, further expanding its involvement in the public sector and offering job opportunities to disadvantaged individuals.

Organizationally, the Social Cooperative Vel stands out for its flexible and horizontal structure. In line with the principles of the third sector, the cooperative adopts an inverted pyramid, where the highest authority is entrusted to the members’ assembly, which nominates and approves the decisions of the board of directors. This approach is complemented by a non-hierarchical vision, which values the equality of all members. All members of the cooperative share the same responsibilities and honors, in a context that promotes participatory cooperation. In recent years, the cooperative has undertaken new initiatives in the agricultural sector, starting the production of honey and Aronia Melanocarpa, a plant native to North America but now widespread in Europe, particularly in Poland and Russia. Aronia is a shrub that produces black berries rich in nutritional properties and is considered a superfood due to its extraordinary antioxidant qualities. Aronia berries are indeed richer in antioxidants compared to fruits like currants and blueberries, and are particularly valued for their high concentration of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments that give fruits and vegetables their characteristic color.

Aronia Melanocarpa is particularly known for its health benefits, including improving visual and neurological health, protecting against diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and microbes. Due to its high anthocyanin content, Aronia has ranked in the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) charts as one of the foods with the highest antioxidant properties. These characteristics have attracted the pharmaceutical and food industries, which have developed nutraceutical products and food colorants derived from this plant.