Tomás Pérez - Banana Farmer in Magdalena, North Colombia
From surviving from harvest to harvest to being able to plan ahead and support his family. After 40 years of banana farming, Tomás still lights up when seeing his crops flourish with the right support.
Tomás Pérez has spent his life growing bananas in Colombia’s Magdalena region. After taking responsibility of keeping his family’s land going and providing for his own children, Tomás spent years of long work days for very little return: ‘what one earned here was barely enough for sustenance.’
‘Bananas for us are everything… our source of food… a source of pride… everything '
Today, that same farm tells a different story. With Fairtrade, Tomás says he is no longer only surviving from harvest to harvest, but able to plan ahead and support his family in ways that once felt out of reach. ‘It gives the opportunity to save… more … to pay for one child’s semester… [we are] living better.’
Tomás says that selling into conventional markets ‘didn’t represent much financially… what one earned was barely enough for sustenance .’ That changed when his co-operative became Fairtrade certified. ‘When Fairtrade arrived the difference was noticeable… Fairtrade has a stable price .’ This stability is critical in a region where, as he explains, income can vary sharply across the year.
100% increase in productivity since agroecological practices were implemented at COOBAFRIO
Alongside fairer prices, Fairtrade Premium is supporting farmers to invest in their families, farms and communities.
Tomás’s children are now studying at university - something he previously ‘didn’t aspire to… because there was nothing left.’ Tomás points to practical changes on his land: ‘Fairtrade [supports] us with bioproducts… [that] help the health of the soil .’ Agroecological practices like using biofertilisers and better soil management projects have increased productivity and resilience.
For Tomás, the difference comes down to what is left at the end of the day . ‘Now that I’m Fairtrade [certified]… I have many projects to carry out… and I’m going to carry them out.’ After 40 years of banana farming, Tomás still lights up when seeing his crops flourish with the right support: ‘I plant a seed… and then I see it be harvested… and I feel very proud.'
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See the real-world impact of Fairtrade through powerful stories from farmers, workers, and communities around the globe. Visit our Impact Stories page to discover how fairer trade transforms lives, builds resilience, and drives lasting change.
