Building a Space for Learning, Health, and Community Development at Finca El Muelle

When Finca El Muelle, a pineapple farm in Costa Rica, became Fair Trade Certified in 2012, workers began discussing how to use their Community Development Funds to support long-term community goals. Through meetings and assemblies, they identified the need for a shared space that could support learning, recreation, and development for workers, their families, and the surrounding community. The idea was practical and focused: a central facility for educational activities, cultural events, and sports. From the start, the decision-making process was a collective effort. Members agreed to save the annual Fair Trade Community Development Funds over several years to make the project a reality. In December 2017, the first phase was completed with the construction of training rooms, which began hosting academic and technical courses. Guided by regular discussions, the Fair Trade Committee, with the approval of the general assembly, continued allocating funds year after year. By 2025, those savings led to the opening of an expanded multipurpose center designed to serve the farm’s 516 workers, their families, and community members. In total, workers have invested $137,090 USD from their Community Development Funds to build and expand the center. To date, this investment has benefited 4,697 people, including workers, their families, and the broader community. The project relied on shared responsibility and sustained collaboration. Jean Carlo Parrales, the current president of the Committee, described the outcome this way: “This is not just a building; it is a reflection of collective efforts, mutual trust, and the Fair Trade model that we have embraced with responsibility and a vision for the future. Through the Fair Trade Premium, the workers decided in assembly to allocate funds to build a space that responded to a real need: to promote health, sports, family life, culture, and community development.” Today, the center functions as a hub where people can build skills, participate in sports and cultural activities, and strengthen social ties. The investment shows how worker-led decisions, grounded in local needs, can create shared infrastructure with lasting value for an entire community.