Safe Cooking for tomato workers

Tomato workers at JV Agro in Mexico recently identified safe and efficient cooking as a top priority for their families. Through a worker-led needs assessment, they found that over 32 percent of participating households lacked access to a stove or gas. Many families relied entirely on firewood and charcoal for daily meals. This created ongoing challenges, including poor indoor air quality, safety hazards, and extended meal preparation times. Taking action, the workers decided to invest $35,100 USD of Fair Trade Community Development Funds to address this lack of appliance access. They provided complete cooking kits, which included stoves, gas tanks, and installation materials, to 131 workers and their families. The local committee organized the distribution to ensure every household received a fully installed kit for immediate use. By shifting away from open flames, families can now prepare meals using a much safer and more reliable method. This transition drastically reduces exposure to harmful smoke, lowers the risk of household accidents, and improves overall hygiene. Through their own decision-making process, the workers at JV Agro created healthier home environments. Local teams will continue to monitor the project to confirm these lasting improvements and gather feedback from the participating families.