Approximately 100,000 jobs are created annually, with wages above the country’s average from ramón harvesting, processing, and selling
Traditionally, harvesting ramón was typically a whole family task including women, children, and men. During the fruiting session (7 to 10 weeks), women and children would collect the seeds from the forest floor that would provide them food for an average family for a year. However, at present, people are trained as professionals in forest product management.
A significant number of people have been continuously coming out of poverty through these jobs within the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Harvesting ramón seeds have been providing opportunities for women to work.
Women from the communities are trained to process the ramón seeds into flour, which they can sell locally and export. To assure ramón meets certification standards, a committee of three women inspects each batch for sale. A value chain committee for ramón has mainly been beneficial for sales. Today, the women who sustainably harvest and process ramón seeds can contribute much-needed income for their families.
For Carolina Alvarado, and many other women the concessions and products like ramón and xate have empowered them to build leadership skills. With support of Rainforest Alliance and training through the concession model, Carolina was able to break from the traditional gender roles. She has traveled, studied in the United States, and is now a community leader in the Petén.
"I wanted to see the world and working in the concessions offered me that opportunity."
Women are not only involved in the ramón process, they are the leaders and experts.
Alimentos Nutri-Naturales S.A.(ANSA) is a women’s cooperative that formed with the support of the Maya Institute to dry, process and eventually sell ramón. ANSA works with Caroline MacDougall and her company Teeccino to make ramón-based products. Asociación Muralla De León (AMLU) is another women’s cooperative that produces ramón flour. They are making their own products and working with the government to feed school children ramón-based cookies that are nutritious and delicious.
To read more about ANSA, click here https://rainforestalliance.wixsite.com/guatemala/post/_ansa