Q: What’s sweeter than a fresh pineapple?A: A fresh pineapple that helps rural farmworkers access education and opportunity, of course!
When you buy a Whole Trade® product opens in a new tab, a portion of what you paid goes into a development fund for the community that produced it. The farmers and farmworkers then determine how to use those funds to meet the needs of their community.
Whole Foods Market sources Whole Trade organic pineapples from Finca Corsicana in the valley of the Mount Poas volcano in Northern Costa Rica. Workers at Finca Corsicana voted to invest community development funds in a learning center that provides courses in reading, computer skills and English.
Costa Rica is one of the most literate countries in Latin America, but access to secondary education is limited in isolated rural areas, where many children leave school in order to work. That’s why the community center at Finca Corsicana is so vital — it provides an opportunity for 550 members of the farming community to continue their education and develop new skills.
In the video below, 12-year-old Judith explains how English courses at the learning center are helping her excel in school.
Sweet, right? If you’d like to help improve the lives of Judith and her community, look for the Whole Trade Guarantee seal the next time you purchase pineapple, and consider making one of these mouth-watering recipes:
Do you have a favorite way to enjoy fresh pineapple? We’re pining to hear your juicy ideas!
