Producer Profiles

El Guabo - Asocación Pequeños Productores Bananeros El Guabo

The Asociación de Pequeños Productores Bananeros El Guabo (El Guabo) has been a Fair Trade pioneer since its foundation in 1998. The members of El Guabo are spread across a vast area of South-central Ecuador, impacting large sections of rainforest that benefit from the Fair Trade environmental standards of production. El Guabo members became Fair Trade Certified™ to commercialize their small, individual productions collectively and reach sustainable levels of socio-economic development.
 

Quotable

“

The best thing El Guabo has done so far is this course on the company's history, because it allows us to get to know the organization and prepare ourselves to continue our parents' work. We can also contribute to the development of small agriculture. I am a university student and this course is also very helpful for my professional development.  ”

Luis Suárez Jr., son of El Guabo members
“

The mutual support between El Guabo, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security, is an efficient way to get healthcare to all of our members as well as the community. We provide medical supplies with our Fair Trade premium and the other organizations provide the medical professionals and facilities where services are provided.  ”

José Llanos, President of Luz y Guía
“

Fair Trade allows us to avoid exploitation from informal traders and have development opportunities within a framework of justice and equity for all.  ”

Gustavo Novillo, General Assembly Member

Programs

Organizational Strengthening

Through Fair Trade premiums, El Guabo’s own Leadership School is now providing free trainings on the cooperative’s history. Additionally, the school offers a managerial program for members and their children to improve operational effectiveness. El Guabo is encouraging a new generation of leaders to take ownership and continue the cooperative’s work in years to come.

Production Improvements

El Guabo budgeted $USD 242,500 in Fair Trade premiums to implement Precision Agriculture practices. This budget accounts for environmental analysis, infrastructure improvements and a shared warehouse for basic supplies to be sold at low cost. The project aims to decrease costs and increase productivity, forecasting visible environmental and socio-economic results by 2012.

Workers Benefits

El Guabo provides safety mechanisms for their employees through various workers benefits. Employees of Asoguabo receive health insurance, severance pay, life insurance and the benefits guaranteed in the collective contract between workers and El Guabo.