© Dear Farmer
Farmers are at the heart of my work (hence why they're in our name and on our packaging!). Transparency and honesty are something I believe keep me motivated for Dear Farmer. I'm still in the very early stages but have big hopes for the future. Dear Farmer exists to support marginalised farmers through two main pillars:
1 • FAIRTRADE WAGES
Today, worldwide, fair trade producers only make up less than 1% of the 570 million small-scale farmers. That means, 99% of small-scale farmers are working in a model that doesn't guarantee fair prices or provide basic working conditions.[1]
Currently, we pay our farmers 15% above whatever they wished to be paid. We do not negotiate with them on wages whatsoever. Being a startup I decided to start with a 15% premium pay (the fairtrade level) whilst keeping the product affordable. It may not be perfect but it's a start, and we'll be adapting and increasing this amount as our company grows and as our farmer's requirements change. By working directly with the farmer, without any middlemen, I can ensure the farmers are receiving their premium and above all be able to build a long-term healthy relationship which I am eternally grateful for. It also positions us as their favourite buddies to receive the freshest produce 😉
When envisioning Dear Farmer, from the very beginning it was imperative to me that the farmer be showcased on the packaging. They deserve the recognition, without them we wouldn't be able to enjoy these beautiful botanicals. Using their image does not help us increase sales or any of that sort. In fact, my designer and I moved the actual name of the product to the sides, in order to put their picture clearly in the middle where they can be seen and appreciated. Many suggested it wasn't the best idea visibility and marketing wise, but to me, the people behind the indigenous herb needed to be seen.
2 • INVESTING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY
Smallholder farmers often don't have access to resources and technologies that could not only ease strenuous tasks, but also improve their future [2]. So for every purchase, I invest a part it into sustainable farming initiatives. By working with farmers directly and understanding their issues, solutions can be better targeted. This includes tools like solar dryers and automatic turmeric slicers that supplement their regenerative and holistic ways of farming rather than tools that industrialise them. In the future, I think it would also be super cool to look into GIS to help farmers check plant and soil health across their land.
The fairtrade model was built so producers can reinvest that extra income into sustainable farming practices for themselves. However, we aim to support them in this area ourselves by working with companies and students who specialise in agroecology. Leaving farmers to independently decide and use their additional funds however they feel is best.
It's a work in progress with plenty on the plate to accomplish, but the positive impact is all worth it.
References:
[1] https://www.fao.org/agrifood-economics/en/
[2] https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/publication/frontier-technology-issues-frontier-technologies-for-smallholder-farmers-addressing-information-asymmetries-and-deficiencies/
