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Taking a “field to fork” approach, Exporta Calidad worked within the full supply and distribution system—or value chain—including growers/producers, packinghouses, marketers, and exporters. The program delivered technical training on improved technologies and farm, land, and water resource management. It worked with producer groups, cooperatives, and their members to help them meet international standards for safety, quality, and labeling. The program used a combination of expanded traceability systems and intensive farmer training to ensure that food products being exported are grown, harvested, and handled under accountable sanitary conditions.
Exporta Calidad improved the quality and production of high-value horticulture products for domestic and export markets. Agriculture is the country’s second largest sector, and the Dominican Republic has some comparative advantages in the region: lower land and labor costs and shorter transit times to key export markets. But too much of its agricultural products are rejected because of food safety and quality concerns. This program increased the quality, productivity, and sales of four key agricultural products: avocado, cocoa, pineapple, greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers), and so-called oriental vegetables.
Funder: USDA Food for Progress Program
Duration: 2015 to 2021
Award: $16 million