The Best Tour Guide in the World Is Peruvian, And His Main Office Is Machu Picchu
Some life stories are inspiring. Others are transformational. Efraín Valles’ journey is both. A native of Cusco, Efraín is a passionate tour guide, dedicated marathoner, and self-taught polyglot, all driven by resilience and purpose. “The effort Efraín puts into his work is simply outstanding. It’s as if the gold medalist can do anything. Despite a […]
Latin America Home to 400,000 Organic Farmers, But Faces Export Challenges
Latin America has become a major supplier of organic products globally, yet it still faces hurdles before it can firmly establish itself as an international organic export powerhouse. This insight comes from Juan Carlos Ramírez, president of the Board of the Inter-American Commission on Organic Agriculture (CIAO). At the commission’s recent eighth assembly in Argentina, […]
Voices of Lambayeque: Native Cotton and Artisan Heritage
San Martín de Porres University, October 26, 2016 I’d like to thank my colleague and the book’s author, Cristina Gutiérrez, for inviting me to speak before this distinguished audience and the authorities of San Martín de Porres University. It is an honor to share my experiences with Lambayeque’s native cotton and textile traditions. First and […]
WFTO Summit Highlights: Fair Trade and Naturally Dyed Cotton
From September 16 to 19, the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) held its global summit in Lima, Peru. Gathering more than 400 attendees from 76 countries, the event included fair trade buyers, NGO representatives, government officials, and leaders from international agencies like Simel Esim of the International Labour Organization and Isabel Durant of the United […]