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Testimony

Thank you from Toronto

Posted Wed, 04/06/2008 - 09:40 by

Dear people of Equicosta,

I want to thank you for making it possible for me to buy Fair Trade bananas in Canada. I moved three months ago to Toronto from Europe, where FT bananas are very common, almost the symbol of the whole FT movement. I haven't been able to eat bananas here, being aware of the harmful conditions that conventional bananas are produced in. Today I bought my first FT bananas in Canada, thanks to you, and it made me very happy.

I wish you all the best and good luck with your mission!

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APPBOSA

APPBOSA

Small scale growers of organic bananas with international projection is the leader of RED de PEQUEÑOS PRODUCTORES DE BANANO FAIRTRADE (REPEBAN). There are 7 producers associations and they are the main once of organics and fair-trade bananas in PERU.

The Association of Small Producers Organic Banana Saman and Anexos -APPBOSA with its flagship product of organic bananas, has managed to reach internationals markets.
APPBOSA production covers an area of approximately 450 hectares, to reach a production level of 14 containers per week (a total of 275,000 kg. per year).
APPBOSA certifications are: Organic and Fair Trade, Global Gap, Eurepgap, USDA Organic, Control Union Certifications.

The objectives of the organization is to consolidate the entire export production in the international market especially in niche markets such as the Fair Trade since it is certified (2003) and it has been a major factor for organizations of small producers of organic bananas of the Chira Valley to advance in the marketing chain for their product and be sustainable in international trade.It has triplicated the number of their members having 30 women among them against 6 in 2003.

THE IMPACT OF FAIRTRADE

The Economic durability is one of the most important results of fair-trade. The Association has archived positioning in the market, good profits for their members and independence.

APPBOSA invested in infrastructure , administration system, quality control and it has it own packing center.<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

The Social Plan
It has created a fund of help for surgical interventions, hospitalisation etc..
Every year several children of the members recive a scholarship to study agriculture skills and methods. The women regrouped to create a seam workshop.

The Environment Plan
Waste management, natural composting, maintenance of seawalls and evacuation of water channels.

80% of the fields are cultivated on biological mode so the protection of the environment is already very high.

Some of the examples of the fair-trade prime are:
Care of health
Roads and channels
Packing centers Offices
Training education, Bonus and extras (Christmas, Mather day etc..)

TESTIMONY

Valentín Ruiz Delgado
President of REPEBAN and General Director of APPBOSA
“Without the Fair Trade we would not be where we are today”

Eliana Gonzales
”All our kids go to school even the girls, before they stayed home. I did not go to school and now I can follow some courses to learn. The education is so important and gives the opportunity to our children to have a job later on. Now a days women work outside the house and a lots of us work in the seam workshop.”