Portoviejo enters the group of Latin cities with certificates for fair trade

PORTOVIEJO

Generating food products in a healthy way, protecting the ecosystem and having fair marketing are part of the proposals that 200 producers from Porto Viejo can now offer not only in the country, but also internationally. This after Portoviejo received the certification of Latin American City for Fair Trade.

This designation in Ecuador is also held by Quito and Riobamba, and worldwide by some 2,000 cities in 33 countries. The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is the most important entity that promotes principles such as opportunities for disadvantaged producers, no forced labor and less child labor, respect for the environment, fair trade practices, among others.

The delivery of this recognition to Portoviejo was carried out by the Latin American and Caribbean Coordinator of Small Producers and Fair Trade Workers (CLAC); but other entities joined this certification process, including non-governmental organizations, such as the Maquita Fair Trade Foundation, Manos Unidas and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation.

María Jesús Pérez, executive director of the Maquita Fair Trade Foundation, pointed out that this declaration is given to cities whose authorities support and promote small businesses, of producing families that protect the ecosystem and that produce products in a healthy and agroecological way.

He considered that these practices will support fair trade within a framework that prioritizes the financial system, while this model of support for small producers prioritizes people and care for the environment.

“It is a sustainable production, free of chemicals, with organic products to fertilize and control weeds, which tends to have products that are healthy and that there is a fair payment to those involved in the processes,” said Pérez.

Organic rice is harvested in the biocorridor of the Portoviejo River estuary

But this effort already takes a few months of training, not only from Maquita Fair Trade. Estibaliz Taboas, coordinator of the NGO Manos Unidas in Ecuador, said that for this support with training in Manabí, Chimborazo and Esmeraldas, a four-year agreement is promoted, called “Ecological production, fair trade and responsible consumption”, which seeks to generate awareness and promote policies and practices that generate in citizens the concept that there is another more just way of consuming food.

There are several reasons that led this Spanish NGO to promote this initiative in the three provinces, among sectors where there are inequalities, especially in rural women, high rates of poverty and child malnutrition, a proposal that is already being promoted in Manabí in the cantons Santa Ana, Portoviejo, Junin and Bolivar; in Chimborazo in the Guamote and Colta cantons; and in Esmeraldas in Muisne and San Lorenzo.

“It is not only training, but technical support for peasant organizations, social enterprises. There is also an opportunity to market. This project has many edges, citizen awareness, because it is important to change our way of consuming with more sustainable production practices”, said Taboas.

In the Department of Economic Development of the Municipality of Portoviejo, 200 entrepreneurs of food products have been recognized; 50 of them are already on the shelves of the country’s major supermarket chains, and another ten will be added this year, according to Fabián Santana, director of that municipal department.

Whiskey Ceibo makes its way into the national market with Manabi identity

He said that this new recognition of the products made in Portoviejo strengthens production, and now the Manabi capital joins 2,000 cities in the world that promote fair trade with organic products or food.

Since 2021, three products from Porto Viejo have been exported to other nations, mainly the United States. One of these examples is the Yelcis cassava starch cookie, from the Keecsa company; to which others are added, such as chifles and also handicrafts, for example, the toquilla straw hat. (I)