Murska Sobota, Slovenia
Vila Natura started its journey back in 2005 as a traditional farm making the brave leap into organic production. Officially established as a family-run enterprise in 2012 by organic agriculture pioneer Marko Slavič and co-founder Vanja Slavič, the business has grown significantly. Today, they cultivate 75 hectares of their own arable organic land and process grains from roughly 300 hectares per year.
Reflecting a true multigenerational legacy, the second generation – Maj and Nejc – is gradually stepping into operational and strategic roles to ensure the farm’s continuity. Despite its steady growth, the company faces regional challenges that limit the broader adoption of organic food.
Navigating the local market presents significant challenges, beginning with the limited availability of locally produced organic raw materials and the need to strengthen cooperation with additional organic farmers. On the institutional side, strict administrative procurement rules in schools and kindergartens, combined with a kitchen preference for convenient, pre-prepared foods over raw grains, create significant challenges for increasing the use of organic food in public kitchens.
These hurdles are compounded by limited consumer awareness of the benefits of organic food, a lack of organic-focused restaurants, and escalating production, packaging, and transport costs that heavily squeeze profit margins on basic milling goods.
More Local Organic Products in HORECA connects local organic producers with schools, public kitchens, and the hospitality sector through education, chef training, and digital tools. By strengthening short supply chains and improving collaboration, the initiative promotes greater use of locally produced organic food across Slovenia.
