The program consists of employing approximately 25 full-time local workers who are paid fair wages to cultivate land that is deforested and deemed unsuitable for cultivation. This land is owned by local Ranquitte citizens who are largely incapable of cultivating the land on their own (i.e., the aged, infirmed, widowed, etc.). The land is cultivated with food crops, fruit/nut trees, and Haitian Arabica Typica coffee. In return for receiving the food crops, the landowners agree to have their land restored back to a healthy state, to leave the crops undisturbed, and to learn proper agriculture cultivation practices. Cultivation of approximately 60 acres is accomplished over a three year period.

During and after the three years before the cash crop matures, landowners and their families realize the benefit of the food/tree crops as compensation for the use of their land. Workers receive fair wages paid on a monthly basis during this 3-year period. Once the coffee crop matures, it will be processed locally and sold to export markets in the U.S. and Europe as a fair-trade, eco-friendly, specialty coffee. An additional ~50 seasonal workers will be added to harvest and process the coffee during the annual July-October harvest season. The proceeds from the sale of coffee will be sufficient to pay for on-going operating expenses (labor, supplies, transportation, utilities, etc.), to provide a modest return to the workers and landowners, and to expand the program into neighboring communities. As a result, economic self-sufficiency is realized in the fourth year of the program.

Program benefits

• Approximately 500-1,000 Haitians will be made food secure, no longer surviving on hand outs, food scraps, and marginal crop harvests.
• Over 350 Haitians will benefit from the on-going net income from the sale of coffee during and after the fourth year of the program, thereby affording them the ability to pay for the necessities of life (food, medicine, education, housing, etc.).
• Approximately 60 acres of land will be fully restored to a healthy state with trees and crops, thus eliminating the environmental effects of runoff, silted streams, deforestation, and soil erosion.
• An on-going business enterprise is established (coffee cultivation and processing), owned and managed entirely by the workers and landowners.
• A workforce of 25+ employees is paid fair wages to support their families.
• As one of the few requirements of the landowners, each landowner has agreed to donate a specified portion of their food crop to the local church for the benefit of the “poorest of the poor” in the community.

Funding and donations

The program requires funding during the first four years of its life. After that time, donations are no longer required since the program “pays for itself” through the export sale of the coffee. Donations have been received from individuals, corporations, churches, and foundations. 100% of all donations go directly to the program (wages, seed stock, supplies, tools, equipment, transportation, and facilities). No donation money goes toward marketing, administration, or fundraising—all of which is provided voluntarily. All donations are tax deductible.

If you find it in your heart to make a tax deductible donation for this very worthy cause, click here for more information.

For a recent update on the program and its progress, click here.