Our high-oil cardamom seed — some of the best in the world — is grown by farmers belonging to Fedecovera, a cooperative of nearly 50,000 growers that has been a partner in Frontier Co-op's Well Earth sustainable sourcing program since 2009. Through the years, we have helped Fedecovera expand their organic spice production and assisted in a number of facility and process improvements, as well as supporting their community programs.
Fedecovera is a cooperative group made up of 36 smaller cooperatives that support 60,000 people, mostly indigenous Mayan farmers and their families.
In addition to fair wages and legal services, Fedecovera provides free traveling health and dental care, even in the remote regions. The co-op also offers scholarships, assistance with forest utilization and reforestation projects, and loans for expansion and production. And it trains growers in sustainable agriculture and organic certification.
By working directly with the cooperative rather than going through middlemen, Frontier Co-op is able to ensure that the farmers receive the best prices for one of their most important cash crops. We also support the cooperative with market information and technical assistance.
A Well Earth donation of $50,000 helped Fedecovera expand their dental services into a modern new clinic with new equipment and an additional dentist. The clinic opened in 2015, with our CEO and Purchasing Manager attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Coban, Guatemala.