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The story of El Guabo, one of Equal Exchange’s
producer partners, is a success story in grassroots
organizing. In 1998, 14 small-scale banana farmers
in southwest Ecuador decided to take the tremendous
risk of sending one container (about 38,400 lbs) of
bananas to Europe with the hope of selling it directly
to a supermarket. By cutting out the middleman, they
took the power back into their own hands. With the
sale of this first container, the El Guabo Association of
Small Banana Producers was born. The entrepreneurs
transformed themselves from individual, marginalized
growers into a democratically run organization with
access to the international market.
Today, El Guabo is a farmer-run co-operative with 450
small-scale banana farmers. Each farmer is committed
to improving quality of life for themselves and their
communities. In addition to earning a fair price for
their bananas, the co-op receives an additional $1
per case (approx. 40 lbs of bananas) as a Fair Trade
social premium. El Guabo’s members voted to spend
the premium on education, health care, environmental
projects and infrastructure improvements. Additionally,
El Guabo is giving back to the local and global
community by sharing their highly successful cooperative
model with other producer groups in Ecuador
and throughout the world. | |
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Equal Exchange is excited to announce a new partnership with CEBIPO, a progressive group of banana farmers in North West Peru.
Peru’s hot arid climate is ideal for organic banana production and in the late 90’s, the government began promoting organic farming in the region. For the first few years of organic harvest, there was weak communication between the farmers and each farmer, with less than 1 hectare of land, did not have the volume or power to negotiate a fair price with the multinational banana companies. In response, the growers united and created the Central Association of Small Producers of Organic Bananas (CEPIBO). This non-profit organization run by the growers provided access to the international market and the benefits of fair trade. In 2008, CEPIBO successfully exported its first container of Fair Trade Organic bananas. Equal Exchange/Oké USA became their first USA partner in mid-2010.
Today, CEPIBO consists of 1400 families operating 1450 hectares of land. All land is owned by the farmers themselves who are now paid above the minimum $11.40 Fair Trade price per box. The transition has prompted production improvements including the building of three new packing stations greatly increasing efficiency and capacity. Together CEPIBO producers continue to use their fair price to improve operations, their communities and livelihoods.
Next time you buy bananas, look for the Equal Exchange label. By choosing Equal Exchange bananas you are aligning yourself with these small farmers and becoming a part of the banana revolution.
"We would like to demonstrate that, with unity, small producers are capable of contributing to the
socioeconomic development of our country, not only big businesses can do it."
- Quote from CEPIBO
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