Guatemala City, by Brenda Larios -AGN. -Due to the coordinated efforts of the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, and Education, family farmers achieved over USD 47.7 million in sales as suppliers of school meals in the country.
Adonay Cajas, Director of the Directorate of Regional Coordination and Rural Extension -DICORER-, stated, “It is vital for us to deliver school meals, which support the health and nutrition of millions of students during the school year. This year, suppliers have sold USD 47.7 million.”
Deliveries
According to the DICORER director, during this school year, there have been four deliveries of school meals to 35,000 public schools nationwide.
Cajas declared that each supplier is supported by a network of over 23,000 Guatemalan family farmers throughout 265 municipalities.
These farmers are supported by departmental technical teams, PAE, and the DICORER of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, who sell to the Parent Organizations -OPF- with products from family farming.
It is expected that more people will be able to join the program to boost the economy further.
The Products
Each bag of groceries contains the four options authorized for each delivery in 2023. The products include beans, corn, tomato, onion, bell pepper, potato, cucumber, lemon, orange, watermelon, melon, yucca, pineapple, sweet potato güisquil, perulero, banana, egg, avocado, radish, apple, and broccoli.
This institutional market is a valuable opportunity for national producers since it positively influences the income of rural families, strengthens the local and family economy, and benefits 3 million students at the preschool, elementary, and middle school levels.
