On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

On our first day in Piura we visited Cepibo which is owned by 12 producer groups and over 1300 individual farmers.  Jose Lecanaque, General Manager showed us the new cableway they have installed to help the farmers take their bananas to the washing station. Previously the farmers carried the banana bunches 500m on their backs.  Now they pull the bunches along.  This still looked like very hard work but they were extremely happy with the improvement.  I spoke to Ana whose job it was to put lemon juice on the banana crown to stop the latex from leaking and damaging the banana in transit. She said that she now worked 8 hours per day and was paid a fair wage for the work. She was also a member of a union which looked after her welfare.  The new infrastructure has allowed them to increase exports from 150 containers in 2005 to 803 in 2011 and they are now exporting directly rather than through a third party which means they get paid a better price.

Later on that afternoon we met with Appbosa which started in 1983 with only 20 workers. The co-operative now has over 350 individual farmers in 12 producer groups.  Aingeru Garcia, General Manager explained that they have been concentrating on ways to increase production. They have installed an irrigation system which not only waters the bananas but also delivers fertiliser.  They have recently used their term loan to buy “nun necks” to protect the bananas and increase production.  These are very simple collars that stop the bananas rubbing and damaging the skin. These strategies have resulted in a 16% increase in production. He thanked Shared Interest’s UK investors for helping with this investment as it has had huge impact.  He explained that there was still much to do and they are now looking to build a small reservoir as they often run out of water.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation