AN ONGOING COMMITMENT
Sustainable Spices in Peru In 2023, within the framework of the USDA/Food for Progress Peru People, Nature, and Spices Partnership project, Frontier Co-op was invited to partner with the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) CLUSA to respond to a growing global demand for ginger, turmeric, and oregano, and support producers, processors, and buyers of these spices in increasing sustainable agricultural productivity, expanding their trade while also increasing the resilience and income of farmers in Peru. Over a five-year period, the project aims to grow Peru’s sustainable supply sector by improving productivity, quality, and compliance with international regulations and standards. Activities focus on: • Sustainable production and farmer resilience – including good water management and agricultural practices, integrated agroforestry systems, farm intensification and diversification including intercropping practices, and access to improved inputs. • Increasing producer associativity and strengthening market connections – including building and strengthening farmer associations and cooperatives, increasing opportunities for aggregation along the value chain, and improving traceability measures, including helping to obtain key certifications. • Strengthening capabilities of institutions along the value chain – including strengthening coordination between regional and local government bodies and producers to identify and implement relevant food safety protocols. • Increasing product quality, sustainability, and food safety – including increasing product quality from the farm, aggregation, processing, and exporting level (i.e., a focus on proper drying, other post-harvest technologies, and handling and storage practices), as well as supporting FSMA compliance and obtaining certification (i.e., Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point [HAACP], GFSI). • Increasing financial literacy and access to financial services for producers, processors, and/or exporters – including agricultural lending and co-investment in relevant initiatives. • Strengthening buyer-seller linkages – prioritizing those facilitating access to market opportunities. • Enhancing policy and regulatory measures – focusing on those supporting produc- tion and commercialization of high-quality products linked to the three spices. Frontier Co-op is supporting this project as a key market partner and buyer of ginger, turmeric, and oregano and other spice processors involved in the project. Our team is providing in-kind assistance, guidance, and marketing network connections to aid with expanding awareness within the industry.
Photo credits: Photo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Food for Progress Program, proj- ect: “People, Nature and Spice Alliance”, implemented by NCBA CLUSA. The photograph shows a training activity with local farmers engaged in the oregano value chain in Tacna, Peru.
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