Welcome to Dole’s organic banana project in Peru! This is a unique and exciting venture involving communities of small-scale farmers.
With support from Dole, they have converted low-input local agriculture into a thriving organic banana export business that is producing tremendous economic and social benefits for their communities.
Where are we?
We are in the Chira River Valley near the town of Sullana, in the state of Piura, 650 kilometers north of Lima. This region of Peru is semi-desert but the dry climate is perfect for growing organic bananas. A government-operated irrigation system of canals has turned the fields into an oasis where most traditional banana diseases – which thrive in hot and humid conditions – are unable to develop.
We are just south of the equator here and the sun is fiercely hot. In fact, growing conditions are so good that these organic bananas can compete with the best conventionally-grown bananas.
Very special farms
These are different from established banana plantations around the world. These are 2 associations: BOS (Bananeros Organicos Solidarios) and APOQ (Asociacion de Productores Organicos de Querecotillo) and 1 cooperative called Santa Maria, putting together more than 1,900 small independent banana growers. Each individual farmer cultivates on average little more than 1 hectare.
These associations are organic certified under EU 834/2007 y EU 889/2008 for European Union markets and certified by FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organization) Cert for Fairtrade standards. 30% of farmers also have GlobalGap certification – a standard that measures good agricultural practice.
Creating new jobs
About 6,000 people live in the communities around the farms. Because of the success of the banana program, many new activities have developed in parallel, such as transport services and radio communications. This has added to the number and variety of jobs available.
Raising farmers’ income...
Dole Peru – Copdeban started operations in 2001, purchasing and exporting organic bananas from farmers in the Chira River Valley. The Company provided them with technical assistance and training on organic production, food safety, quality assurance, harvesting and fruit handling.
The export operation started with a few boxes per week and grew steadily. Today, we export nearly 2 million boxes of fresh organic bananas from Peru a year.
...by moving up the production chain
Dole Peru - Copdeban used to buy fruit “hanging on the plant” before harvesting, packing and exporting it.
Since 2006, we have been working with the farmers associations and cooperative to help individual growers move up the chain – from being just producers to becoming producers and packers.
This enables farmers to obtain higher prices for their fruit which in turn elevates their income and standard of living.
Fairtrade certification also brings important benefits. The association receives a $1 premium for every BOS and APOQ box of bananas that Dole exports and sells in the Fairtrade market.
Social farm programs
Higher farmer income is not the only factor driving prosperity and development in the region. The farm associations and cooperative use their revenue to develop economic, social and environmental projects in the farm communities.
The health center has been upgraded with dental equipment and farmers can receive training on agriculture and specific working skills.
Community support
The associations and cooperative also finance social programs for the whole communities surrounding the farms: from a healthcare fund and road improvements to school funding and Christmas gift baskets. Environmental initiatives include a waste management program, wells improvement and an environmental management plan.