Against a backdrop of corporate consolidation, Michoacán’s small-scale avocado farmers tend to receive a disproportionately small share of the profits generated by the sale of their product. Conversely, they and their local communities are unevenly subjected to the industry’s negative impacts such as deforestation, water scarcity, soil degradation, and chemical pollution, among others.
Equal Exchange, as an alternative trader, sources exclusively from Proveedores Agrícolas Orgánicos (PRAGOR) and Grupo Integradora Vics - two trailblazing collectives of small-scale avocado farmers who’ve adopted a cooperative sales model in a bid to combat such imbalance. Their potent framework promotes democratic transparency within each group, amplifies the market power of members, supports the implementation of sustainable farming practices, and breeds initiatives to improve livelihoods in local communities.
In accordance with Equal Exchange’s sourcing agreements with these organizations, weekly direct negotiations are held to ensure that the producers are paid fair prices in a volatile and often coercive market. Additionally, a Fairtrade premium of $1.356 per case of avocados is tacked onto every purchase, with the farmers democratically overseeing the allocation of resulting funds to community groups and collaborative development projects.
Within an industry that favors large-scale corporations, PRAGOR and Vics - and their respective partnerships with Equal Exchange - foster hope for a fairer future in which small-scale producers, their communities, and the environment can all thrive.
To learn more about this game-changing model of trade, take a look at the article, Truly Responsible Sourcing, on Equal Exchange’s website.
