Cocoa farmers participating in agroforestry projects in Peru
Lake Champlain Chocolates & Fair Trade USA
Lake Champlain Chocolates has been partnering with Fair Trade USA for 20+ years, providing trusted, traceable products that protect people and our planet. Last year, our partnership expanded to launch Lake Champlain Chocolates’ Microgrant program. The program donates 1% of sales from Lake Champlain Signature Bars directly to cocoa, sugar, and vanilla farming communities. Microgrants provide flexible, rapid funding that allows farming communities to support projects that strengthen environmental protection, women’s empowerment, and resource management.
Last year, the program supported two farmer-led projects in Peru that center around agroforestry, the integration of trees into farming systems:
1. From Forest to Bar: Building Sustainable Cocoa Systems
In Satipo, Peru, the APROVRAEM cooperative launched the “Forest to Bar” project to strengthen cocoa production through agroforestry. Farmers built a fully operational nursery that now produces both cocoa seedlings and native forest species.
This nursery gives farmers greater independence, reduces reliance on external suppliers, and strengthens technical knowledge within the community. Farmers now grow species like mahogany, capirona, and cedar alongside cocoa, creating systems that protect soil, improve shade, and support biodiversity.
Fifty farmers directly benefit from this work, and their impact extends to families and neighboring communities. As seedlings move from nursery to farm, producers prepare to renew aging plots and adapt to changing climate conditions with stronger, more diverse systems.
One participant shared: “It is very important for us to receive these cocoa seedlings and timber trees because they will help us improve our plots. With climate change, things are not like they used to be. It is hotter, and sometimes there is a lot of rain, which affects our plants. With more trees, we will have better shade, and the soil will be better preserved. We will also be able to renew our cocoa with more secure plants. We are grateful for the support of the nursery project and hope that you will continue to support us so that we can continue to improve our farms and the future of our families.”
Farmers will continue to see the impact of this project into the future as the nursery supports the ongoing production of seedlings. Over time, integrating native trees into these systems will improve soil health, strengthen resilience to climate change, and increase long-term productivity. There are also plans to launch specialized workshops with nursery and seedling management as a key topic for beneficiary farmers.
Farmers implementing agroforestry practices in Peru
2. Scaling Impact Through Agroforestry Adoption
In nearby San Martín de Pangoa, the Granos de Oro cooperative managed grants dedicated to expanding agroforestry across coffee and cocoa farms. Their project restored degraded land and improved farm productivity by combining training, seedling distribution, and hands-on support.
Key efforts included:
- Delivering training sessions on agroforestry management across communities including Jerusalen de Miniaro, Alto Señoria, Mazaronquiari, Cachingarani, Anapati, and Twinza.
- Purchasing and distributing 7,000 tree seedlings (Tornillo, Cedar, Moena, Pine, and Eucalyptus).
- Planting, monitoring, and maintaining reforested plots.
Today, 85% of farms in the cooperative use agroforestry systems, integrating timber and native trees directly into production. Farmers plant trees as windbreaks, along boundaries, and near waterways, which strengthens ecosystems while improving crop quality. This shift reflects a deeper transformation. What started as a pilot for alternative farming systems has become a widespread movement and inspiration within the cooperative.
The project supports 100 farmers and their families, many of whom depend on coffee and cocoa as their primary source of income. By integrating trees into coffee and cacoa farms, members are able to steward their land, improving their current production systems while planting the foundation for a more resilient future. These changes will stand as a testament to today’s generation of farmers, whose children will inherit stronger farms and recognize the environmental leadership of their parents.
A Model for Climate Resilience
Across these communities in Peru, farmers are proving that sustainable agriculture can drive real change. By integrating trees into their farms, they are restoring landscapes, improving livelihoods, and helping to future-proof their local industry and economy.
The microgrant program helps elevate producer expertise to make this work possible. By investing directly in farmer-led solutions, our partnership with Lake Champlain Chocolates supports approaches that are practical, scalable, and rooted in local knowledge. When farmers have the tools and support they need, they design and manage systems that are built to last for generations.