MCIC Fair Trade Tour Peru, April 26 Final Report Prepared by : Jennifer Williams Background In April of 26 the Manitoba Council for International Co-operation facilitated an in depth Fair Trade Education Tour in Northern Peru. Led by Jennifer Williams, an independent consultant with over 5 years of experience in Fair Trade, 2 people participated in the 8-day trip. The goal of the trip was to expose participants to a wide range of Fair Trade products (Coffee, sugar, bananas, mango and cocoa) and to delve into the direct and indirect impacts of Fair Trade. We also had the intention in the trip to explore the challenges and opportunities that exist in Fair Trade. The trip itinerary included Visit to Norandino s (Norandino is a 2 nd tier co-operative that started exporting Fair Trade coffee in 995) office for a presentation on the history of CEPICAFE/Norandino. Visit to Norandino s coffee processing, coffee cupping lab and warehouse for an in depth look at the processing involved in coffee exports. Visit to Norandino s Piura based Panela processing plants (new and existing), got to see Fair Trade Whole Cane brown sugar being packed for export to Canada. Visit to a cocoa association, members of Norandino. Visit producers cocoa farms, as well as the fermentation and drying facilities of the co-op. Visit to a sugar association, including farms and the rural processing centres. Visit to a coffee association, including farms. Visit to a APPBOSA, a Fair Trade banana co-op. Visit to farmers fields as well as to the washing and packing facilities of APPBOSA. Visit to APROMALPI, a Fair Trade Mango co-operative. Visit to farmers fields and to the processing centre and offices of APROMALPI. One night at the beach in Mancora. For the full itinerary please see Appendix A. Tour Details There were 2 participants on the tour, one co-ordinator, making 3 people travelling from Canada. In addition, at all times while travelling we had a staff person from Norandino to support in the logistics and directions. We had hired a translator for the duration of the trip, however after the first day it became clear that she was unable to fully translate as required. The tour leader (who speaks fluent Spanish) estimated that only between 25-3% of the content was being properly relayed to participants. Due to this, after two days we let the translator go, paid her an extra days wages and the tour leader did the translation. While this was
not ideal, in this particular situation it allowed for much greater depth of experience and understanding for the participants. For the duration of the trip we hired the MasterBus a small bus that seated 5 people and was air-conditioned. The vehicle was comfortable and served our needs however was not always idea on mountain roads. However, in future it is believed that this transport was best suited to our needs and did do the job. Taking several 4x4 s or Jeeps would have been much more expensive and less cohesive (and may have still experienced problems on the bad roads). For most of the trip we based ourselves out of a comfortable hotel in Piura. The hotel was simple but clean, had air conditioning and a dining room where we could gather. Having this home base was helpful for organizing ourselves. We spent one night in Montero, where accommodations are much more basic, and one night at the beach. When we were travelling in the villages meals were organized ahead of time by the staff at Norandino. We enjoyed beautiful meals in a rural setting many days in a row. In most of these cases we got to share these meals with producers, which due to language was difficult for true relationship building it nonetheless enabled us to share a common experience. Themes that emerged during the visit. Fair Trade purchasing is extremely important to the livelihoods of smallscale farmers. Selling their products to a fair trade market provides price stability and a guaranteed income. Otherwise many producers would grow and harvest their products with little security to know what they would receive for their products. 2. Fair Trade has not only stabilized the pricing for producers, but it has also supported producers improving the quality and yield of their production. As members of a co-operative the farmers receive technical support and training. This improvement in quality and yield increases the income of the farmer significantly. 3. Fair Trade has provided a significant opportunity for countries to earn export revenue from rural otherwise marginalized communities. This revenue from these communities has forced the national government to invest in these rural areas in infrastructure, sanitation, health and education. Fair Trade has played a critical role in fostering rural development in many countries. Without these markets these rural communities would continue to be underserviced. 4. The majority of Fair Trade producers, as contributors to the national economy now through fair trade sales, now feel that they can actively ask
local, regional and national governments to respond to their needs. They would have never asked in the past. 5. The majority of Fair Trade producers have low levels of education and have little opportunity for personal or professional development. Participation in their local association and in the co-ops have provided rural farmers with an opportunity to learn and grow in ways that would otherwise not be possible. This has a huge impact on self-worth, self-esteem and happiness. 6. There is a crisis coming in the near future across all products the majority of producers are 5 years or older. The success of Fair Trade has meant that these producers have been able to send their children to school and as such the vast majority do not have children who want to return to farm their land, even under Fair Trade conditions. There is a question on what will happen to these farms in the next 5 years. 7. While Fair Trade has been successful in creating opportunity, there continues to be more supply of Fair Trade products than demand. It is important that we continue to grow the market for Fair Trade products in Canada. 8. Climate Change across Northern Peru the current agriculture is under threat due to massive fluctuations in climate in the past 8- years. Basic food security is becoming more challenging and the income security from cash crops such as coffee, mangos, cocoa etc is becoming less secure as large fluctuations in weather patterns are having a huge impact in crops. Apromalpi -2 years ago was exporing 8 containers of Organic mangos per year, in the last two years they have barely managed to export 2 containers, due to changes in the weather. Suggestions for Future Tours. Agenda we had a very ambitious agenda, trying to squeeze as many products in as possible. Due to a flight schedule change with Air Canada, we lost a day of down time that would have been very appreciated. In future, allowing ourselves a day upon arrival in the base destination would be good for everyone. Some participants wanted more time for shopping, we did two stops, one is a pottery community to several pottery stores and one to a women s weaving co-operative but people still would have appreciated more time. The number of commodities visited could be limited, depending on the audience. Doing a similar trip with business focused people, I would suggest a shorter trip with only 2 or 3 commodities. 2. Language It s difficult for participants to ask all of their questions/have side conversations with producers/co-ops due to language. We should
explore also having trips to locations where English is spoken, to give people the chance for additional learning. Finding a translator with the specific ability to translate fair trade issues, co-operative structures, processing etc is difficult. The tour leader needs to be fluent in the local language to suppor this, or interviews with translators by the tour leader ahead of time need to be conducted. 3. Location Northern Peru offers a wealth of FT products to explore, Norandino was a fantastic host and they are open to hosting again in the future. We compensated the staff at Norandino who supported the tour coordination as part of the trips expenses. 4. Physical Activity Due to the poor roads in some regions there was some walking up hills required on the trip. This required good footwear, appropriate clothing and a base level of physical fitness. While good walking shoes and clothes for being in the field was mentioned during the Orientation, reminders for participants on field days would have been helpful for some. Participant Feedback 86% of respondents answered that they participated in the tour to learn more about Fair Trade. % of respondents indicated that the tour met or exceeded their expectations. 86% of respondents said they had some knowledge of Fair Trade prior to the tour and 86% indicated that they have a better understanding of Fair Trade after the tour. 86% of respondents said they would educate their community about Fair Trade now that they have this improved understanding. 4% said they would educate their workplace. 43% of respondents found visiting the processing facilities of producer co-ops the most impactful of the trip. 29% found visiting the co-ops themselves the most impactful.
Yikes, terrible Could have been better OK Good Fantastic Total Weighted Average Information provided at the Orientation.%.% 57.4% 4 28.57% 2 7 4.4 Information provided prior to departure.%.% 7.43% 5 7 3.86 Accomodations.%.% 7.43% 5 7 4.57 Food.%.%.% 85.7% 6 7 4.7 Translation.%.%.% 57.4% 4 42.86% 3 7 4.43 Logistics.%.%.% 7.43% 5 28.57% 2 7 4.29 Quality of meetings.%.% 57.4% 4 28.57% 2 7 4.4 Quantity of meetings.%.% 7.43% 5 7 4.57 Amount of free time.% 42.86% 3 28.57% 2 7 3.86 Value - cost of the trip vis a vis what you got out of it.%.%.% 28.57% 2 7.43% 5 Participants responded that since participating in the tour 57% value very much and 43% value extremely fair trade procurement in their workplace, business or institution. 57% of participants responded that they value extremely fair trade purchasing in their personal lives. An additional 29% responded they value Fair Trade purchasing a lot in their personal lives. What would people have liked more of: Personal accounts from producers, personal accounts from community members (even government), witness use of premiums in communities.
Co-ops, where farmers were actively working their fields, or actively processing were the most impactful. Aligning with harvest as much as possible. Though I think we already did that ;) More time to visit and shop at local markets and craft producers. More information on walking conditions during the trip (such as steepness, bad terrain) and stronger suggestions on footware and clothes Maybe free time at the beginning and end of the trip to acclimatize, shop, etc. Another day at the beach could also be very much enjoyed! How can MCIC help you use this information to expand the reach of Fair Trade? If a real connection/proposal takes place for MCIC funding as a result of this trip, that would be helpful for explaining to others about tangible results from trip. Help with an organized effort to create demand for fair trade fresh produce (i.e. bananas) would also be helpful. increase our use and promote purchase of fair trade products Lots of tools are available, and now with this personal experience I feel well "equiped" to do a session with our procurement staff and other employees Help put together a presentation with the group's photos and notes. Some form of educational materials based upon the learnings could be good, such as slides on the experience, or handouts highlighting the intangible/induced benefits of fair trade in producer communities It might be worth some follow-up emails or meetings to see how we move forward with our new knowledge, eg to promote Norandino products. 7% of respondents said they would consider participating in a Fair Trade Tour again in the future and % said they would recommend a future Fair Trade trip to friends and colleagues. Other Comments was fortunate to participate in this trip -- the quality of the visits were fantastic. The group itself, although varied, worked REALLY well together. Our little "adventures" made the trip even better. Many thanks to all who made this happen.
All in all, very pleased, money well spent. I was happy we had a nurse with us. I have not heard a negative word from anyone on the trip. For such a diverse group in background and ages, it was extremely smooth. Everyone was a "good sport" even when things went wrong, eg. the tsunami, the falls, the burns, and so on. Thanks for everything! Agenda Fair Trade Education Tour to Peru Day Month Time Description april Leave Home arrive wee hours of the morning on the 2th Travel to Piura Visit Norandino 7: AM Flight to Piura, leave hotel really early 5 am. 9. am Arrival in Piura, go to hotel to check in. am Travel to Norandino's Cocoa and Coffee Plants. am Visit Coffee and cocoa plants 2 April Taste testing coffee/cococa.3 pm Lunch 3.45 pm Presentation on the history of Norandino 5. pm Visit the Panela plant 6. pm Return to the hotel 7: PM Dinner Visit to the a Cocoa Association and farm 8. am Leave for the Cocoa region. am Visit Cocoa farms 3 April. am Visit the Cocoa Processing Centre 2. pm Meeting with the Executive of the Assocation.3 pm Lunch 4. pm Return to Piura 7: PM Dinner Visit to Montero - Panela (Whole Cane Brown Sugar) Leave for Montero (you can sleep on the way there!), check out from hotel and bring 6. am your things for one overnight 8.3am Arrive in Montero, drop our things at our Guest House 4 April 9. am Breakfast. am Visit Sugar Cane farm.3 am Visit to a cane processing centre. pm Lunch 3. pm Meeting with Sugar producers
5 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 4.3 pm Return to the Guest House 6. pm Dinner with Sugar cane producers Visit to Montero: Coffee 9. am Breakfast. am Leave for Coffee Region. am Visit coffee farms and processing centres 2.3 pm Meeting with the Executive of the Assocation. pm Lunch 2. pm Visit the Lookouts of Montero 4. pm Return to Piura 7: PM Dinner Visit to Sullana : APPBOSA Banana 9. am Leave for Sullana. am Visit Banana Farms/Processing and Packing Centres. pm Lunch/meeting with Executive 3. pm Leave for the Beach! 7. pm Dinner at the Beach Beach day Breakfast Lunch 5. pm Return to Piura Visit to Apromalpi - Mango Co-op 8. am Leave for the coop 9. am Visit Mango farms/meet the executive.3 am Visit the packing plant 2. am Lunch.3 pm Return to Piura, flight to Lima later that day, return flight at 2 am The Alternative Trip Report A large part of what made this trip fun and memorable were the adventures that we experienced during the trip. These adventures cannot be planned but are most likely to be expected. The most prominent adventures on this trip included: Crossing rivers on rocks, a couple of participants getting booters and one getting a full fledge bath Losing the bottom of our van after our 2 nd river crossing in the middle of the bush. Our driver and one of the participants had to remove the piece from the van so we could continue driving. Climbing up several hundred metres of rocky foot paths to reach the sugar co-op we were visiting. The rains had main the road so bad that the vehicle could not pass. The altitude and climbing caused optical illusions, including the siting of a Yellow Touched Turkey Monkey.
Having an extensive visit with the Mayor of Julili when we just stopped to find a bathroom Getting to walk through several portions of bad mountain road to enable the bus the ability to pass without additional weight The tragic earthquake that struck Ecuador on April 6 th, the epicenter about 8 km from where we were at the time. We were advised by local navy to evacuate due to the risk of a Tsunami. We left our hotel and climbed up a nearby hill for safety. Fortunately the risk passed and we were fine.