Farmers

Meet Walter Loyoga

When you meet Walter, who grows palm fruit for Natural Habitats on his farm in the Quininde region of Ecuador, you can't help but be struck by how he beams. He'll tell you that he grows "organic del corazon" -- organic from the heart. Walter uses green manure--strategic cover crops that nurture the soil and attract beneficial insects--natural pest management (like traps with a mixture of molasses and water to attract a harmful beetle) and intercropping for productive, healthy trees and a thriving ecosystem.

Walter Loyoga

"When you grow organically, the land thanks you and takes care of itself.

Meet Pablo Rosales

Pablo's farm in Ecuador includes vast amounts of primal forest, which he has left untouched for 30 years so the native species of plants and animals can continue to thrive. The rest, he is passionate about cultivating organically; he's even organized a special recycling unit on his farm to reuse and dispose of waste responsibly.

Pablo Rosales

"The forest provides a natural level of humidity, which surrounds our crops and protects from diseases. Forest plays a role of a curtain around the actual farm, which defends organic crops: palm and fruit trees."

Meet Fausto Orozco

Fausto has 33 years of experience as a palm grower in the Quininde region of Ecuador, and is happy that he made the change to organic with the help of Natural Habitats. It wasn't an easy process to make the change from using chemical fertilizers and pesticides to adopting organic methods of pest control and composting, but Fausto says it opened new opportunities. Now, he's empowered to improve his agricultural processes, minimize waste, improve the quality of his harvest and participate in the global marketplace.

Fausto Orozco

"To grow organically, you must first look inside yourself and understand what you're doing, you have to truly believe that what you're doing is right. Because if you don't, the industry will take you in a different direction. But if we give what we produce quality, spirit, character, personality ... then we will succeed."

Meet Ibrahim Issif

Ibrahim is an organic and fair trade certified oil palm farmer who lives in Ghana’s Eastern Region and sells his palm fruit to Serendipalm, Dr. Bronner’s sister company in Asuom, Ghana. He has seen many improvements since going fair trade and organic: “We learn how to maintain our farms well, how to grow cover crops, how to do pruning, and how to harvest. I have a place to sell my harvest and can afford to send my children to school.”

"I have a place to sell my harvest and can afford to send my children to school.” (photo credit: Rapunzel/Serendipalm)

Meet Kwadwo Addo

Kwadwo grows organic and fair trade oil palms in Ntronang, Ghana, and sells his fruit to Serendipalm, Dr. Bronner’s sister company in Ghana’s Eastern Region. He is happy with his switch to growing organic and fair trade oil palms: “We do not use chemical sprays that require protective clothing. We do not use chemical fertilizers. I have a steady source of income. Money comes back from the palm oil I sell to develop my community.”

"I have a steady source of income. Money comes back from the palm oil I sell to develop my community.” (photo credit: Rapunzel/Serendipalm)