Update: July 2011
A food fair was held recently in the Ecuadorean capital, Quito, where all participating producers showcased their products and explained their product development processes to the public.
So far, the project has enabled 37 small producers to successfully create and market fair trade items and obtain good prices for them. Their products, which include cheese, jam and craft items, have gained a foothold in the local marketplace and this is enabling them to innovate and explore new opportunities.
Current priorities include efforts to identify potential new markets and product gaps that the small producers may be able to fill.
Through the project’s alliance with the Latin American Network for Community Trade, the small producers have been able to immerse themselves in learning as much as they can about fair trade and Latin America’s solidarity economy concept, which is now supported by government policy in Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil.
Update: September 2010
84 small producers finished the fifth and final module of the School of
Solidarity Economy and Fair Trade. The curriculum focused on advocacy
and active participation in fair trade events and trade meetings. The
school has equipped producers to make good quality products and to
access local markets, by covering topics such as business plan
development and the principles of commercialisation.
The small producers participated in three fair trade events, where they were able to promote their produce.
The first steps were taken towards establishing international trade
networks. The project aims to assist the producers in forming
associations that will enable them to trade their products in European
and American markets.
Updates