On July 5th, Coliman Bananas and Fairtrade inaugurated the first stage of the “Fairtrade Sociocultural Complex”, a Community Center located in Tecomán, Colima, Mexico. A total of 5,200 people will benefit from Coliman’s project, which will provide the local community with high-quality sports facilities and a safe space to enjoy communal activities.
With an initial investment of 15.7 million pesos, the agricultural workers themselves have fully financed this project. The workers earned the funding for this project through the additional premium they received from the Fairtrade purchases of bananas, administered through the Fairtrade Foundations “Familia Coliman A.C.” and “Don Jorge A.C.”.
The project began five years ago with the purchase of three hectares of land. The inauguration marked the conclusion of this first stage of development, which includes a state-of-the art soccer field, urbanization, electrical, hydraulic, and sanitary infrastructure.
“This project will bring fantastic benefits to the employees’ quality of life and the communities living in this area,” says Jorge Aguilar Jr, CEO of Coliman Bananas. “We are a leading producer of organic bananas and since our foundation, we have sought to improve the quality of life for our employees and provide social benefits to the communities. Our mission is to nourish the world, and when we talk about nourishing, we don’t just think about food; nourishing is about filling things with life. That is why we take care of our land, the flora and fauna of our fields and, with even more care, our people.”
Workers vote
The Fairtrade program seeks to improve market access and trading conditions for producers and workers in agricultural plantations. To obtain Fairtrade certification, farms must meet rigorous social, environmental and economic standards. Once certified, a guaranteed minimum price is obtained for the exported product, plus an additional premium for agricultural workers. Then, through assemblies organized in their associations, these workers vote on how to invest the money, considering the best ways to improve their quality of life and serve the primary needs of their communities. This direct economic benefit is what makes Fairtrade unique.
In response to the completion of the first stage of the project, Jorge Aguilar Jr said that: “This project is an achievement of our agricultural collaborators. They choose how to invest the Fairtrade Premium they obtain through the Fairtrade model of bananas.”
The Fairtrade premium generated by the sale of organic bananas has significantly positively impacted the lives of agricultural workers, their families, and communities. These benefits can be seen across numerous areas across Mexico, where producers work for the Coliman Bananas group.
For more information:
Isis Arlet Rodriguez Arana
Coliman Bananas
Tel: +52 – (662) 300 3867
Isis.rodriguez@coliman.com
www.coliman.com
https://www.coliman.com/Home/ResponsabilidadSocial