Buying Fairtrade means farmers and workers earn a fair price for your favourite products like coffee, tea, bananas, and chocolate. It also means farmers earn an additional amount to invest in their farms and communities.
Foncho Cantillo, Banana Farmer, Colombia
![Photo of Foncho Cantillo, Banana Farmer, Colombia](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Foncho-Cantillo-Banana-Farmer-Colombia-600x600.jpg)
Albeiro Alfonso Cantillo, known as Foncho, is a banana farmer from Cienaga, in the banana growing region of Magdalena, northern Colombia. He was born into bananas, as his farm has been passed down from generation to generation.
Foncho is a member of Coobafrio Co-operative (Riofrio Banana Co-operative) which was set up by his father and 19 other farmers in the late 1990s. The co-op now has 43 members, including 10 women, who employ almost 300 permanent and temporary workers.
The increased incomes and local employment, as well as the social projects funded by the Fairtrade Premium, have strengthened the co-operative’s standing in the local community. The co-operative’s Education Fund has supported 82% of members in paying for school fees, uniforms, equipment and other costs.
![Photo of Foncho Cantillo, Banana Farmer, Colombia](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Foncho-Cantillo-Banana-Farmer-Colombia-266x178.jpg)
Albeiro Alfonso Cantillo
Banana Farmer, ColombiaKouassi Affoué Angèle, Cocoa Farmer, Côte D’Ivoire
![Photo of Kouassi Affoué Angèle, Cocoa Farmer, Côte D’Ivoire](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kouassi-Affoue-Angele-Cocoa-Farmer-Cote-DIvoire-600x600.jpg)
Kouassi is a Fairtrade Cocoa Farmer and a member of the ECOMOM Co-operative in Côte D’Ivoire.
She is a mother of 5 children and before becoming a cocoa producer in her own right, Kouassi helped her husband on his farm.
Now, she has her own farm which helps her to support her family financially. With Fairtrade and the Fairtrade Premium, she has not only been able to diversify her income by planting rice, but the Fairtrade Premium also supports her co-operative to cover their costs so that they don’t have to take out loans.
Together with Fairtrade, Kouassi has also taken training about women’s rights, negotiation and leadership.
![Photo of Kouassi Affoué Angèle, Cocoa Farmer, Côte D’Ivoire](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kouassi-Affoue-Angele-Cocoa-Farmer-Cote-DIvoire-266x178.jpg)
Kouassi Affoué Angèle
Cocoa Farmer, Côte D’IvoireEliezer Reis Jorge, Coffee Farmer, Brazil
![Photo of Eliezer Reis Jorge, Coffee Farmer, Brazil](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Eliezer-Reis-Jorge-Coffee-Farmer-Brazil-Photo-Eduardo-Martino-1024x1024.jpg)
Eliezer Reis Jorge is a Fairtrade coffee farmer in Brazil, and President of the Costas Co-operative / Boa Esperança.
He has been a coffee farmer for 20 years, and says that the biggest challenge facing coffee farmers today is climate change. But with the support of Fairtrade, the co-operative is introducing projects to reduce the impacts of the changing climate.
![Photo of Eliezer Reis Jorge, Coffee Farmer, Brazil](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Eliezer-Reis-Jorge-Coffee-Farmer-Brazil-Photo-Eduardo-Martino-266x178.jpg)
Eliezer Reis Jorge
Coffee Farmer, BrazilLinner Ruto, Tea Farmer, Kenya
![Photo of Linner Ruto, Tea Farmer, Kenya](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Linner-Ruto-Tea-Farmer-Kenya-1024x1024.jpg)
Linner is a Fairtrade tea farmer in Kenya. She has been farming tea for 20 years, and is a member of the Fintea Union co-operative. As a widowed mother of two, Linner is no stranger to hardship.
But through projects like the Gender Action Line and Tea project, which are funded by the Fairtrade Premium, she has been able to participate in financial management trainings. Linner has also begun dairy farming and beekeeping as alternative sources of income.
![Photo of Linner Ruto, Tea Farmer, Kenya](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Linner-Ruto-Tea-Farmer-Kenya-266x178.jpg)
Linner Ruto
Tea Farmer, KenyaBengaly Bourama, Cocoa Farmer, Côte d’Ivoire
![Photo of Bengaly Bourama, Cocoa Farmer, Côte d’Ivoire](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bengaly-Bourama-Cocoa-Farmer-Cote-dIvoire-1024x1024.jpg)
Bengaly Bourama is a farmer with COOBADI, a Fairtrade certified cocoa co-operative in Côte d’Ivoire.
Originally from Mali, Bengaly studied human resource management while at university there. After graduating, he faced the universal question – what next?
His father suggested cocoa farming, noting that it was a good alternative to ‘just wandering around, doing endless internships’– plus, it was an opportunity for entrepreneurship, an idea that agreed with Bengaly.
So, he settled in Côte d’Ivoire, ready to attend trainings, craft a business plan and cultivate cocoa.
![Photo of Bengaly Bourama, Cocoa Farmer, Côte d’Ivoire](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bengaly-Bourama-Cocoa-Farmer-Cote-dIvoire-266x178.jpg)
Bengaly Bourama
Cocoa Farmer, Côte d’IvoireA few small changes to the products you put in your basket can make a huge change to the lives of those who produce them.
Together we can Be The Change. #ChooseFairtrade.
How to campaign for Fairtrade this Fortnight
Ask your MP to sign our pledge to Be The Change, and encourage others to contact their MP
Organise or join a campaign event
Push our message to ‘Be the Change’ out into the world! Dive into social media to spread the word, tag us, and use the hashtags #BeTheChange and #ChooseFairtrade.
Choose Fairtrade when you shop this Fortnight and encourage others to do the same