Nutrient Security Coordinators and Customs Promoters are some of the near important links in Nutrient iv Farmers' programs. These people breathe life into the strategies our partners create with u.s.. They spend their days traveling to remote villages, they bring people together, they renew confidence that coffee farmers c an provide for their families.

Coordinators work for our cooperative partners, only they serve the people – they are often the only person in the co-op charged with improving nutrient security. We know that improving food security and livelihoods is a long-term process that has to accomplish all levels – families, students, young people, women, leadership, staff – coordinators and promoters brand that vital link.

Every bit an organization committed to collaboration, Food 4 Farmers looks for ways to bring people together to share and acquire. That's why it was so important to bring all of the coordinators together for our beginning-always Coordinator Learning Exchange in mid-Oct.

I had the privilege of traveling to the headquarters of SOPPEXCCA, our partner in Nicaragua, to participate in the exchange. We converged on Jinotega from many unlike points – Guatemala, Colombia, the Us, United mexican states. For some attendees, the substitution marked their first time traveling to some other land. Expectations were great and the enthusiasm was, too.

On the first mean solar day, the SOPPEXCCA leadership squad gave us a warm welcome. I can withal hear General Manager Fatima Ismael's words:

"We have to open the mind, not just equally producers, but every bit agronomists, equally managers.  Our cooperative is similar our homeland, and we accept to brainstorm in that location, we need to renew our pride in being producers. Food four Farmers has helped the states to open our minds on this."

Then, as we went around the table sharing our names and the programs nosotros manage, you could run into eyes light up. A familiarity, even though this was the offset time most of these people had met. They recognized a common vision, too as common challenges. That week, we actually worked together, to strengthen knowledge about food security, food sovereignty, and the relationship with climate alter.

Luis Jimenez, Coordinator at ACODIHUE, our newest partner, said, "On a personal level, this exchange is helping me realize that I don't consider my ain food consumption habits. In our communities, people prefer a Coke rather than making a lemonade with their own lemons, which stop upwards rotting on our farms. And nigh us, along with the coffee growers, do not have truthful food sovereignty considering we adopt to produce for consign, rather than grow for our own consumption."

A big part of the substitution was learning most SOPPEXCCA'due south approach to food security. On the 3rd day, we visited the orchard of xl-twelvemonth old Teresa González Palacios, who has a family of x. 4 years ago, she became a member of SOPPEXCCA, which has had a huge touch. Thanks to the food security plan, her household income has increased by 15 percent, assuasive her to support her daughters' education.

Luis Jimenez, Coordinator at ACODIHUE, (left) learns almost SOPPEXCCA'due south organic abode gardens project.

We toured Teresa'southward gardens, full of lettuce, carrots, celery, onions, beets, and more than. Teresa showed what she had learned in the plan, utilizing organic fertilizers and applying them plant past plant. The smaller produce is reserved for consumption at home and the larger, more than uniform produce is destined for the organic farmers market in Jinotega (read more about SOPPEXCCA'south farmers marketplace here). She likewise demonstrated how she now diversifies her family'due south diet, including cabbage she uses in different stews.

We also visited Gloria Talavera. Yous may recognize her from the embrace of our Annual Written report. The mother of three decided to participate in the food security programme together with her whole family; since then, "nosotros have fallen in love, the garden is something the whole family likes."

Gloria Talavera gives change to a shopper at the Mercadito Nutri-Hogar, an organic farmers' market managed and supplied by women in Food 4 Farmers' food security project with SOPPEXCCA.

Gloria recounted the importance of sharing and learning from others, how she could bring something new to her garden and build her knowledge.

Information technology's no use to practice 10 or twenty trainings and non apply even just a little of what we learn. When I come abode, I tell my family: I saw something new and nosotros're going to endeavor this," Gloria said.

"Before the unrest in Nicaragua began in April 2018, we had established a beautiful garden. Afterward that, in that location was no way we could get it to market. But the food we grew served to feed us, and we were able to sell locally."

The next day we visited El Mercadito Nutri-Hogar, the organic farmers marketplace run by women at SOPPEXCCA. Nutrient security Coordinator Liliam Perez showed how they managed the market — organizing records and stock before opening the door, setting prices, and more than. I sampled Gloria's enchiladas served on banana leaves, and watched as customers milled in and the women proudly sold their produce.

"When nosotros began, nosotros thought the garden was only for feeding our families. We didn't have whatsoever expectation of starting a market. Simply with Food four Farmers, and SOPPEXCCA, we have been able to create this market, and now we are ameliorate than earlier," Gloria said .

Seeing how Liliam works with cooperative management and members to implement food security strategies gave the other coordinators important real-earth lessons they programme to apply in their ain projects.

"I am taking a lot of ideas for our market back to Colombia with me. It's non the same as here, simply I tin apply some components to make us more than efficient," said Dora Lilia Lopez, coordinator at COMEPCAFE in Colombia.

"For example, I think the families I work with would exist willing to specialize in unlike crops, so not all of them bring the same produce to market. And I plan to encourage promoters to build relationships with local schools, and so they can sell produce there."

On the final day, we reviewed the stages of plan management with a focus on those activities that generally go unseen – the reports, organizing data generated, measuring impact. We discussed strategic financial planning and keeping skilful command of program resource. Few people like digging into the numbers, but the coordinators were excited to run into how information technology tin go a pathway to map out the future of their programs.

For coordinators like Liliam, the substitution was extremely valuable. While she has achieved a lot working with women in SOPPEXCCA, it'southward her first job and came at a fourth dimension when people were suffering the effects of political strife. She managed to successfully guide these women, and now feels meliorate equipped to share her knowledge. At the start of the week, Liliam met Dora, the coordinator at COMEPCAFE. They're at present working together to create a workshop for improving sales with families there.

Exchanges like these tin brand food security coordinators feel less isolated in their piece of work, and connect them with a readymade network to abound their knowledge, and their support systems, through camaraderie.

As the exchange came to an end, nosotros gathered to share a delicious dinner — where joy, music and dinner were also shared generously. We hope this is just the starting time.

Special thanks to Sustainable Harvest and Mercanta whose generous support made this exchange possible.