October is Fair Trade Month, a time to highlight the farmers, workers, and communities behind the products we buy, and the brands that partner with Fair Trade USA to support them.
To celebrate, we are featuring voices from our partners. Today’s guest post comes from Oppy, a connector of fresh fruit and vegetables from around the world. We asked how their partnership with Fair Trade has helped shape a more fair future. Their answer starts with two grower communities in Peru and what they chose to build with their Community Development Funds.
Partnering for a Fair Future
Authored by Oppy, a Fair Trade USA partner
By participating in Fair Trade, we help support a fair future. Oppy has maintained being a connector of fresh fruit and vegetables from all over the world, a global partner in sustainability and a champion of Fair Trade. At Oppy we garner our efforts into supporting our grower communities to reach their fullest potential. Sustainability Lead, Angela Chan, positions the organization:
“As a bridge between growers and the marketplace, Oppy is proud to help make responsible sourcing meaningful for the people behind our food. Fair Trade brings that to life by supporting workers and helping strengthen farming communities.”
Investing in Strong Communities
When we examine what it means to take care of our grower communities, it means reaching beyond basic needs; facilitating personal development and reinforcing infrastructures within them. Agricola La Guerrero, Inca, Peru, is an example of this. This grower community has participated in the Fair Trade program for eleven years. Initiatives such as the allocation of Fair Trade Community Development Funds have supported them and several others over the years in many community-led projects; one of note – the San Juan de Dios nursing home.
This grower community revitalized their elder care home, a one-of-a-kind facility in the region, repairing urgent infrastructural issues and a complete renewal of the plumbing, electrical and drainage systems. This restoration brought the facility back to great working-condition and now serves the elderly residents who depend on this service. The community pillar now operates at full capacity with over fifty beneficiaries.
Sociedad Agrícola 3P, Lima, Peru, on the other hand, recognized a critical need to support the youth in their community. The results of a comprehensive needs assessment showed a significant portion of workers have school-aged dependents; 46% primary level, 31% at the secondary level, and 13% looking to pursue tertiary education. Progression in education requires adequate access; the internet and digital resources are critically necessary in the modern learning landscape. The collective community voice successfully invested in a program to purchase computers, digital accessories and implement future management of Fair Trade Community Development Funds; equipping 150 beneficiaries to foster systemic support of continuous learning and additional skill development for the working community.
A fair future outlines opportunities for development, worker support and adequate community; choosing Fair Trade is one way to directly contribute to these efforts.
Keep the Fair Trade Month conversation going with more stories from our partners. BLK & Bold and TERRA THREAD share what fairness means to their businesses and why they invest both overseas and close to home.