Valentine’s Day and other giving seasons celebrate connection through meaningful gestures like giving flowers, sharing sweets, and marking moments that matter. Behind these classic gifts are millions of farmers and workers in the floral, sugar, and similar industries who make them possible. By choosing Fair Trade Certified™ Valentine’s Day gifts, people can share treasured moments with their loved ones while directly supporting the communities that grow and produce these products.
We’ve gathered six stories from floral and sugar communities that show how Fair Trade Community Development Funds are helping address these challenges, all while improving livelihoods, strengthening communities, and building more resilient futures.
Gisela Estefania, the daughter of a floral producer at Agrogana, studies English at an after school program given inside the Agrogana grounds.
1. Investments in the Next Generation
📍 Agroganadera Espinosa Chiriboga SA in Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Historically, access to quality education and extracurricular activities has been limited for many children in Ecuador’s Cotopaxi region. In response, agricultural workers on certified farms came together to identify ways to better support the next generation using Fair Trade Community Development Funds. They funded scholarships to help families afford the required school supplies and launched the La Esperanza Learning Center. The program provides educational and personal growth and support for workers’ children. It offers a wide range of academic and recreational opportunities, including math, language, literature, English, and reading support, as well as sports like soccer, basketball, and taekwondo. The center also hosts a summer camp with arts and sports activities to keep students engaged during the school break.
The program has grown since its launch in 2022, with 515 children participating in 2024. The benefits extend beyond academic performance, encouraging the development of positive habits, self-confidence, and reducing dropout rates for the next generation of community members.
Mrs. Karsinem cooks in an updated kitchen space
2. Community Vision Health Initiatives
📍 Associação dos Trabalhadores da Goiasa (ATG), Goiás, Bom Jesus de Goiás, Brazil
Goiasa is a large Fair Trade Certified sugar-producing farm and a major employer in the region, providing jobs to more than 3,000 workers from surrounding communities. Through its Fair Trade Committee, workers at Goiasa identified a critical need for ophthalmology services. They voted to launch an ongoing project focused on improving eye health and treatment for workers, their families, and the broader community.
The project uses Fair Trade Community Development Funds to provide comprehensive ophthalmological exams, distribute corrective lenses, and strengthen beneficiaries’ knowledge of eye health, care, and protection. The project operated across four locations, delivering 1,100 eye exams and screenings, and providing free corrective lenses to 798 beneficiaries. It also offered additional services for children including professional follow-up and treatment from a team that included a nutritionist, psychologist, psychomotor therapist, neurologist, and physical therapist.
One beneficiary shared the impact of the project:
“Paulo had vision loss and believed it was caused by diabetes. Through the exam provided by the project, he learned that he had cataracts. He was able to receive surgery, and after recovering, he said that for the first time in a long time he could clearly see people’s faces, the street, the sun, and how beautiful the world is.”
Deverlyn Jordan Tigas Ante, son of Agrocoex employee Jenny Ante, waves at the company’s complementary nursery.
3. Vacation Days for Kids
📍 Compañía Agropromotora del Cotopaxi – AGROCOEX SA in Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Compañía Agropromotora del Cotopaxi – (AGROCOEX S.A.) is a well-established Ecuadorian company specializing in floriculture, particularly the cultivation and export of fresh-cut flowers. Their farms employ over 250 full-time workers, many of whom are involved in greenhouse cultivation, harvesting, and processing of roses. Agrocoex S.A. emphasizes environmentally responsible farming, including strict protocols for chemical use and greenhouse safety.
To further support workers with young and teenage children or grandchildren, the Fair Trade Committee voted to invest Community Development Funds in vacation courses for 41 children. These programs provide a safe, supervised, and enriching environment focused on socialization and physical activity. By keeping children active and reducing screen time, the courses give workers peace of mind knowing their families are cared for while they are at work. Beyond supporting individual families, initiatives like this help strengthen connection, trust, and a sense of community across the workplace.
4. Education for All
📍 Florecal in Cayambe, Ecuador
At Florecal in Ecuador, floral workers identified access to secondary education as a key opportunity for strengthening their futures and their families’ well-being. Workers voted to invest Fair Trade Community Development Funds in an adult high school equivalency program designed to expand personal and professional opportunities.
The ongoing program has supported 112 workers in completing their secondary education. Participants receive computer-based learning tools and personalized instruction that build on their existing skills and experience. By earning their diplomas, workers are opening doors to greater financial stability and career growth while also supporting their children’s education and fostering a lasting culture of learning across the community.
5. Equine Therapy Support
📍 Jalles Machado in Goiás, Brazil
Workers at Jalles Machado, a cane sugar operation in the central Brazilian state of Goiás, identified a very specific challenge facing many families in the community: a lack of specialized therapies for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The farm’s workers decided to invest Community Development Funds in partnership with a local equestrian society to expand access to equine-assisted therapy for community members with ASD. This nearly doubled center capacity from 65 to 120 patients. Equine-assisted therapy, an established and evidence-supported treatment in the ASD field, improves physical coordination, social interaction, and emotional well-being, creating a profound impact for the 120 families supported by this program.
6. Housing Improvements for Families
📍 Ingenio San Antonio in Managua, Nicaragua
At Ingenio San Antonio, a sugar-producing farm in Nicaragua, workers identified home safety and comfort as a priority for their families. Many homes needed repairs such as sturdier roofs, reinforced walls, or finished floors, improvements that can make a meaningful difference in daily life.
Workers chose to invest Fair Trade Community Development Funds in a housing improvement project that supported 2,444 workers with construction materials tailored to their individual needs. By purchasing materials in bulk and negotiating pricing, the project maximized its reach while providing high-quality supplies such as cement, roofing sheets, and structural supports.
The impact has been immediate for workers and their families. Ernesto José Pereira Pavón, who has worked in irrigation at the farm for more than 40 years, was able to replace his leaking roof through the project. “The project has been wonderful, because each family decides what we need most for our home, whether it’s a roof beam, a bathroom, or something else.”
Stories like these showcase the diverse impact that Fair Trade Community Development Funds can make. Choosing Fair Trade Certified gifts this Valentine’s Day directly supports producers in furthering education, health, housing, and opportunity in their communities. This year, help us celebrate connection while building thriving futures for workers around the globe. Looking for gift ideas that give back? Check out our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.
Become Part of the Fair Trade Community
Connect with a dedicated group of conscious consumers. Stay informed with the latest news and blogs, discover your impact, explore upcoming events, and more!