Producer Profiles
Hoja Verde Ecuador - Hoja Verde CIA LTDA
Hoja Verde has been Fair Trade Certified™ since 2002 and currently produces over 60 varieties of roses. Hoja Verde prides itself on being a socially responsible organization that focuses on human development and environmentally sustainable practices that will preserve land for future generations of flower growers.
Quotable
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My family is better off now. Owning a house is a family’s dream and we were able to achieve that through Fair Trade. Before the house, we paid rent and didn’t have any money saved for schooling. Now we don’t pay rent and we have saved for our children’s education. ” Silvia Sanchez & Aladino Vera, Hoja Verde Workers
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My relatives say there are few businesses that give loans and so many benefits to their workers. They greatly admire everything Hoja Verde does for their workers.” ” Farinango Quishpe Maria Soledad, Hoja Verde Worker
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My son didn’t know how to use a computer and they didn’t teach him well at the school he attended. With support from Hoja Verde, now my son is taking a classes. When he first began the course, he was not at the same level as the other children, but I spoke with the teacher and she helped him until the end of the term. It is great that Hoja Verde can help us with educational development of the community, even though we are not all farm workers or farm workers' children. It is worth it to invest in this program. ” Luz Maria Caza, Hoja Verde Worker
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Programs
Low-Interest Home Loans for Workers
Hoja Verde's Fair Trade workers started a microcredit program, funded with Fair Trade premiums. Farm workers can obtain up to $5,000 loans at low interest rates for purchasing land or a home. For many families, home ownership is a lifelong dream which is made possible by the farm workers’ microfinance program. Since the program’s inception in April 2007, over $250,000 has been invested back into the community in the form of investment loans.
Medical services, vitamins and vaccinations
A portion of the Fair Trade premium for Hoja Verde flower workers supports medical services for specialized preventative and urgent care. Children and youth who attend school may receive reimbursements for medicines and vitamins purchased. The fund covers 85 percent of the refunds for a maximum of $60 per person. This medical support program also includes vaccinations, benefiting over 100 workers and 150 children.
Home Improvement and Construction Loan Program
In Ecuador, ineligibility for bank loans due to low incomes combined with extremely high interest rates make most loans inaccessible to the majority of workers. This means many workers are unable to buy land or make necessary home improvements. Hoja Verde, recognizing a critical need in the community, implemented a program that provides their workers with loans at low, feasible interest rates. With a an annual interest rate of 1 percent and maximum monthly payments of 65 US dollars (2012), Hoja Verde workers can purchase land, build new homes, and make home improvements without falling into crippling debt.