By Nicole Werner, Weaver Street Market in Carrboro Customer Service Department
Our partnership with La Riojana Co-op in Argentina enables us to get unique, co-op made products at a great price while benefitting the communities who grow the ingredients. Direct co-op trade has saved our shoppers thousands of dollars on quality Riojana wine and olive oil! In May, 2017, several members of our staff traveled to La Rioja province to visit the co-op and maintain the strong ties we’ve forged. We toured the vineyards and winery and learned about the community projects that have resulted from the fair trade prices and premiums paid to farmers. This is one in a series of posts about the trip.
Tilimuqui, Argentina
Completely surrounded by three mountain ranges is the quiet village of Tilimuqui. Even though it’s only about 10 kilometers from one of the largest cities in Argentina, the quality of life here is much different. Until 2008, there was no running water for villagers, which often meant walking over a mile out of town to collect water in buckets. The lack of water meant that serious health issues were made worse by poor hygiene and living conditions. When La Riojana Cooperative stumbled upon this town, they instantly knew it was the location where they wanted to start their fair trade projects. These are the things that La Riojana wanted to put in place:
Healthcare in Argentina
Argentina’s healthcare system is organized around three main providers: a universal healthcare system (public), the obras sociales (union-backed health insurance funds), and a private healthcare system, which cover 55%, 40%, and 5% of the country’s population, respectively. Even though there is a universal healthcare system available, fees are still required to see a doctor (even more for a specialist), and a lack of resources and personnel often means waiting in line for hours. For villagers, this is oftentimes not even an option. Lack of transportation and funds means that they usually can’t get to the medical facility and can’t afford to see a doctor or pay for medications and treatment.
Newest Fair Trade Project
After successful completion of their first two fair trade projects, La Riojana set out to start their largest project so far. This month, La Riojana will break ground for a medical center right outside of Tilimuqui. This medical center will be the first of its kind and will provide free basic medical services and maternity care to the residents of Tilimuqui and surrounding villages. Estimates show that the center will provide better access to healthcare to approximately 10,000 people in the area.
In addition to medical care, the center will act as a research and treatment center for regional endemic diseases such as goiter (an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland) and mal de Chagas-Mazza (a tropical parasitic disease spread by insects). After construction of the building is complete and everything is in order with the medical practice, the project will be handed over to the National University of Chilecito. This will allow the university to staff the medical center with doctors, nurses, lab technicians, researchers, and other personnel.
As part of the project, La Riojana also plans to use fair trade premiums to fund the purchase of a dedicated ambulance for the clinic, in an effort to provide better healthcare coverage to workers and communities in more remote villages. In addition to providing medical support and equipment for all their working community, La Riojana will be able to provide individual help to those with special needs and illnesses. Similar to the Tilimuqui school project, this project is largely funded by sales of fair trade Riojana wines.
What is fair trade?
Fair trade is what it sounds like. It’s trade that is genuinely fair to both the buyer and the seller.
Fair trade ensures that farmers and their workers in developing countries are able to receive a fair price for products and have decent working conditions and practices.
Fair trade standards are set by international certification bodies (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International [FLO] for La Riojana). These standards are set after research and consultation with farmers, workers, traders, NGOs, academic institutions, and labelling organizations.
Why Support Fair Trade?
Argentina may be one of the fastest growing wine nations in the world, but it is still a developing country. Most of the workers live and work in small, rural, poor communities with basic local services. Fair trade not only helps people receive a fair wage for their products, but also helps to better their community and improve their quality of life.