Our Partner Fair Trade Organization
Fruandes Ltda. is a Colombian Fair Trade Organization started by Level Ground Trading in 2002. Seed capital, business expertise and training were supplied in order to establish a company that would provide a fair market for fruit grown by small-scale farmers and employment for disadvantaged women in Bogotá, Colombia.
Today, Fruandes provides vital income for fruit growers and workers at the drying facility in Bogotá. Fruandes is a member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT).
Fruandes produces naturally dried tropical fruit: mango, pineapple, banana, papaya, coconut and golden berries, as well as Panela Natural Cane Sugar. Frutos de los Andes is sold by Level Ground Trading in Canada and the USA.
Fruandes employs up to 45 full-time and part-time employees in a given year. In addition to providing a fair wage (20% above government standards), Fruandes provides employees with health care, education, and micro-credit loans.
Recent Highlights
- Three employees have since completed their high school education
- Three employees are currently working towards completing their high school education
- One employee is currently enrolled in a business administration degree prgram.
- Micro-credit Loans
- Three employees have successfully purchased homes, allowing them to move out of Cazuca, a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Bogotá.
