PEB Meeting and Dan's Visit

Hello Family and Friends!


This week has been very exciting and fun.  About two weeks ago, Runa was certified Fair Trade. On Saturday we had a wonderfully productive meeting with the Guayusa Producer Executive Body (PEB) at Runa's office to share the good news and plan their activities for the year. The PEB is made up of representatives from the different areas in which Runa works, and has been set up through the Fair Trade standards in order to ensure that farmers have a voice in the supply chain. According to Fair Trade, the group must take on projects to benefit all guayusa farmers and can do so by spending the Fair Trade Social Premium (a 15% premium paid by the business above the cost of the guayusa). Eight of the nine members of the PEB were in attendance and we accomplished a lot. Runa co-founder, Dan, is visiting Ecuador and he brought boxes of Runa Guayusa tea for the PEB to try. They tasted the peppermint guayusa and the citrus ginger mixes and enjoyed them (thanks to Dan for taking such great pictures).

 

 

We got samples of the guayusa bottled beverage that will be launched in the next couple of weeks in Whole Foods from New York to Boston. Here is a picture of me with field technicians, Pedro, Alex, Elias and Silverio with the new bottles.

I went out to dinner and drinks this week with some coworkers from the office (from left top around the circle: Alexis - our accountant in Quito, Sofia - our accountant in Archidona, Manolo - our factory manager, Dan, me, Cass, Katya - our secretary, and Gabriela - a student researcher).

Next post, I'll share pictures and stories from harvesting guayusa with farmers and Runa volunteers in a Kichwa community.

Love,
Aliana