The Union of Santorini Co-operatives, now known as Santo Wines, was founded in 1947. Today, it represents all cultivators on the island of Santorini, and has over 1,200 active members. Santo Wines is committed to safeguarding local, traditional cultivation, and producing the highest quality Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Santorini wines, crops, and produce, as well as promoting sustainable agricultural development. Santo Wines invests in ongoing development and research, particularly looking at the preservation of biodiversity on the island through a nursery of indigenous varieties, which provides a solid base for study and the trial cultivation of local grapes. But the co-operative has a mission far beyond just viniculture, and it looks to promote all high-quality Santorini products, such as PDO Santorini Tomato, PDO Santorini Fava, capers and caper leaves.