Las Delicias, Colombia
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Thanks to Fair Trade, I’m achieving my dream of completing my degree in administration and finance, which will allow me to earn an additional income and to help my husband support our family.
--- Velkys Lorena Ramos The Gonzalez family, one of the first banana producing families in the Uraba region, has owned the Las Delicias plantation since the 1960s. They have been cultivating bananas since then, even through the violence of the 1990s. The plantation's commitment to its workers shows: 30 percent of the workers have been with the company for over 10 years. Recent developments include a new drainage system, which has increased production by approximately 15 percent.
Las Delicias became Fair Trade Certified in 2008. The certification has given workers a fair labor contract and has allowed the plantation to fulfill its banana contracts without much risk during the economic recession.
Fair Trade premiums have enabled the Joint Body of Las Delicias to implement the following social and productive programs.
Housing Programs:
The Joint Body of Las Delicias allocated a portion of Fair Trade premiums for loans intended for the improvement, purchase and construction of homes for farm workers. This initiative empowers workers to provide for their families, which would otherwise be much more difficult.
Scholarship Programs:
Fair Trade Premiums also fund scholarships for farm workers’ children, effectively helping educate the community. The Joint Body of Las Delicias firmly believes that sustained empowerment lies in education.
Microcredit loan Programs:
Las Delicia’s Joint Body allocated a portion of the Fair Trade premiums for low-interest loans for farm workers who would like to start their own businesses. The Joint Body believes that small businesses will drive and develop the economic livelihood of their community. |
Fair Trade Fresh Fruit 
