US fresh produce giant Dole Food Company has announced that its Peruvian entity Copdeban has created a new foundation in Peru, 'The Dole Foundation of Sullana Valley', made up of 11 producer associations and covering over 2,200 small farmers and agricultural workers.
The foundation, which will be funded through a US$1 contribution from each banana box exported, has been designed to help improve the health and educational conditions in localcommunities and empower producer associations in the production andpacking process.
'This foundation represents a new step forward in Copdeban's partnership with producer organisations,' said Frans Wielemaker, director of the Dole Organic Programme. 'We are very proud of the programme's early success – after only a few weeks, it has already contributed US$230,000 towards projects creating 550 new jobs and providing 40 scholarships.'
Included in the foundation's programme are business development, which aims to provide associations with funds, equipment and training to improve banana production skills, and education to offer rural schools scholarships and infrastructure support.
Further focuses are on health, (providing medical assistance to workers and families), environment (making the community aware of green practices) and community development (building and promoting public places and houses and organising family-focused events).
Dole's newest foundation is its third in Latin America, following the formations of FUNDEBAN in Colombia and DALE in Ecuador.
