Fair Trade in Peru, Success and Lots of Work

Mexico was the first Latinamerican Country to jump into the Fair Trade wagon but soon after, Guatemala, Peru and others follow the example, allowing us to now buy fantastic products while supporting local and sustainable economies in the Third World.

One great example of how Fair Trade works in communities in Peru is "COCLA", a coffee cooperative association located in the Quillabamba region of Peru, east of the Incan city of Machu Picchu. The organization is made up of over 8,000 producers—of which more than 25% are women. After they became Fair Trade certified in 1994, they have been able to establish various social and productive programs, such as the creation of a technical community school, they are not part of a reforestation project training members in organic agriculture and diversification of crops that improves the nutrition of the farmers and their families. COCLA also trains their members in preventive healthcare and medical assistance and has supported the creation of the Sumaq T’anta Women’s Cooperative, which assists women in diversifying their family income by developing micro-businesses.

Now, for those of you that know Peru, please remember that all of this takes place in an area with very few economic options, Fair Trade offers farmers a viable alternative to growing coca, the main ingredient in cocaine.

Another great story is the one of the women of a village in Piura (north of Lima). Jessica Mazonson left a comfortable job in the United States to assist 25 Peruvian women from that village who were struggling to find a way to sustain themselves while living (like the majority of poor third world women) in dirt floors with limited access to clean water.

Two years later, Creaciones Nortenas, a legally recognized women’s cooperative was born and the previous workspace conditions are no longer suitable for a growing production demand.

Featuring handmade crocheted and knitted scarves, purses and blankets, Creaciones Nortenas has a steady product line offered through a Fair Trade fashion company called Autonomie Project, which works exclusively with small, independent cooperatives and Fair Trade-certified facilities located in developing areas of the world(www.autonomieproject.com).

Jessica is now working with the women and the Marbleton Rotary Club to develop a new facility where women can avoid extreme temperatures and a cramped environment. A good problem to have, which means they are growing fast and steadily.

Gigi Pedraza
www.incakids.org