Alta Grazia: a direct link between small Peruvian fruit and vegetable farmers and the world market Note: This project has been cancelled, because of the adverse changes in the market conditions, which inhibits successful continuation of the project.Peruvian agricultural products can only be exported by large farmers. Small and medium farmers do not have access to international market because they lack knowledge, financing, volumes, qualitative packing facilities and contacts. The reality is that large players buy the produce of other farmers for low prices and export it for high prices. Herewith the profit margin goes to the middle man and not to the small and medium farmers. The other option of small/medium farmers is that they pack their produce for excessive prices and sell it on the local market for low prices.Retailers and supermarket in Europe want more insight in the chain and ask for responsible chain development.The applicant Cool Fresh International, is looking for production areas to complement production in other areas. From Peru they can serve their clients in off-season periods for grapes and avocados. The local partner Agro Victoria, wants to expand its export market and support small farmers to get access to export markets. It had the opportunity itself to grow from a small farm to a large player and now wants to help farmers who are in the same situation as it used to be in. Cool Fresh International BV and Agro Victoria SAC want to establish a joint venture. Alta Grazia to provide small and medium farmers in Ica with services for export. They will start export services in grapes, avocados, onions and paprika/peppers.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The project will support outgrowers to get the required certifications to export their produce. GlobalGAP will be part of this. Furthermore, the packing facility will be HACCP and ISO 9001 certified. The CSR policy which will be applied to the joint venture includes issues like freedom of association, non-discrimination, compensation, working hours, health and safety, prohibition of child and forced labour, environment issues and social accountability.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsAt the end of the PSI project 24 people will be contracted. Additionally 201 FTE basic-level seasonal workers are hired. Moreover, 26 medium outgrowers will provide the joint venture with supply. Two years after the project 30 people will be contracted. 255 FTE seasonal workers will be working in the packing station. Around 36 medium outgrowers will supply fruits. Salaries are above the minimum wage. Workers will receive free meals, will get access to health facilities and will get protective working clothes. A foundation will be set up for the employees to execute social projects. Farmers will get the export value of their crops minus a packing and sales fee. They will also share in the profit of the joint venture.•	Innovation/Transfer of knowledgeFor outgrowers, knowledge on how to produce export quality fruits is innovative. Access to export markets will be provided through an integrated outgrowers system. Without this system farmers can never export and grow to large farmers.•	Chain effectsAt least 26 medium outgrowers will be able to make use of an integrated farm management system that will give them the possibility to export. Normally these farmers sell for local prices to middle man who might subsequently export their products. The farmer system provides pre-financing, knowledge, study groups, access to packing facilities, access to the export market and marketing, etc. Moreover, they will share in the profit of the joint venture.In the chain, another (7) suppliers will provide packing materials, transport services, fertilizers and seeds.•	EnvironmentWaste will be separated and collected by designated organisations. Cold storage facilities will be in compliance with existing European environmental standards. The farmers will also be encouraged to use compost instead of chemical fertilizers and to produce in line with integrated pest management methods.•	Position of womenAt least 60% of the workers will be female. The partners in the project aim to recruit women for management positions. To empower small and medium farmers to annually export boxes grapes, boxes avocados, onion bags and bags of pepper by providing access to professional processing facilities, knowledge, transparent information, pre-financing, bundling of produce and links with foreign retailers.