This is used to pay bank debt, invest in farm improvements, improve nutrition and avoid the loss of land due to crushing debt service. Miguel Rodriguez lives with his wife Laura and daughter Rosa Maria in San Juan del Rio Coco in northern Nicaragua. Miguel and Laura are both members of their community cooperative. Over the last 5 years, Miguel and Laura estimate that they have more than doubled their annual income as a result of fair trade. Farmer by farmer, fair trade coffee has made a tangible difference in peoples' lives throughout the world.
Children gain access to medical care where none existed before.
With money in their parent's pockets, they can go to school. Infrastructure is built. Progress against poverty is made. Benefits to the environment By all accounts, these trading relationships are successes with respect to generating pure economic returns for families that need it the most, and nurturing invaluable, powerful, long-term relationships. And such success can be replicated in coffee growing countries throughout the world and for other products, from bananas to tea.