When Covid-19 hit the capital of Bolivia many borders had to be closed. Our partner, Aymara Women Vegetable Producers Association of Achocalla (AFLOPHA), saw this as an opportunity rather than a setback, and found a way to continue providing an essential service: local, healthy and fresh farm products for consumers, as well as income for 405 farm families living in Achocalla — a municipality about 15 km from the city of La Paz.
AFLOPHA receives orders via WhatsApp (a messaging app), and delivers fresh vegetables from their greenhouses directly and safely to customers in La Paz. The team has also partnered with other local farmers and producers to sell and deliver shopping totes filled with diverse and nutritious food.
Delivering locally-grown produce around La Paz, Bolivia in July 2020. Convenience, good public health practices, and the quality of organic products led to soaring demand.
As the days passed during the Covid-19 quarantine, the Association saw daily demand soar from about 25 – 30 bags per day to 65 and later reaching a maximum order of 395 bags / day, which overwhelmed packing, transport, and other logistics.
In order to reap the benefits of this high demand, and using economies of scale, the Association has shifted their focus to offering just two of their best-selling nutritious baskets for sale. They are also staggering orders to a maximum of 200 bags per day and prioritizing long-term customers.
“It is important to meet our commitment to the customers who buy and appreciate our products. Once this disease ends, they will continue to be our customers and buy from us.”
What they’re selling
Each tote of food ranges in price from 110 to 192 Bolivianos, approximately 20 to 38 Canadian Dollars.
Food basket option #1
- Chard (1 bunch)
- Celery (1 bunch)
- Peas (1 lb)
- Pumpkin (2 lb)
- Spinach (180 grams)
- Lettuce (2 bags of 2 different types)
- Plantain (6)
- Potato (4 lb)
- Long onion (1 bunch)
- Parsley (1 bunch)
- Cucumber (2)
- Radish (1 bunch)
- Tomato (1 lb)
- Carrot (1 lb)
- Banana (12)
- Orange Lime (12)
- Mandarin (12)
- Oranges (12)
- Cheese (1)
Food basket option #2
- Amaranth
- Wheat noodles
- Corn beverage (known as “Tojori”)
- Ground tree chili (known as “Locoto en polvo”)
- Quinoa beverage
- Quinoa flour (1 kg)
- Chard (1 bunch)
- Celery (1 bunch)
- Peas (1 lb)
- Pumpkin (2 lb)
- Spinach (180 grams)
- “Haba” beans (1 lb)
- Lettuce (2 bags of 2 different types)
- Plantain (6 units)
- Potato (4 lb)
- Long onion (1 bunch)
- Parsley (1 bunch)
- Cucumber (2)
- Radish (1 bunch)
- Tomatoes (1 lb)
- Carrots (1 lb)
- Bananas (12)
- Orange Limes (12)
- Mandarins (12)
- Oranges (12)
- Cheese (1)
By the community, for the community
Any order which is returned, not collected, or can not be delivered, is given away free-of-charge to families in need.
By partnering with other farmers and producers associations, including one known as “AOPEB“, AFLOPHA has been able to provide longstanding customers with additional product options such as dairy, coffee, herbs, and honey.
Community Evolution continues to support heroes, like AFLOPHA, who provide healthy food to their communities and create income generating opportunities for their local area.
