FAIR4DR is a consultancy partnership whose specific purpose is further to stimulate the growth of Fairtrade in the Dominican Republic.

At the first Latin America Investment Forum in the City of London in March 2011, Rolfi Chevalier, a Dominican businessman based in the UK, and Andy Ashcroft, now a UK businessman running a Fairtrade certified cotton importing business and an ex-British Ambassador to the Dominican Republic (2002-2006), got talking about the historic success and potential of Fairtrade in the Dominican Republic.

The two UK businessmen soon realised that they shared the same views on the potential for Fairtrade in the Dominican Republic, a potential that they agreed has not yet been fully realised.

To this end Rolfi and Andy completed a joint visit to the Dominican Republic in June 2011. They offered several presentations to existing and potential DR Fairtrade producers about the growing global market share of Fairtrade certified products and the intrinsic benefits of Fairtrade certification to small growers in developing countries.

 Andy Ashcroft and Rolfi Chevalier

 While there, some key, influential DR public and private sector figures got wind of and attended some of the presentations. They were persuaded of the need to make a concerted push for more Fairtrade certification to help the tens of thousands of small farmers in the DR and their communities on the one hand, and also to help position the country’s agricultural exporters to take advantage of the growing global market for Fairtrade products.

So as a result of Rolfi and Andy’s joint June 2011 visit, the enthusiasm for a major Fairtrade growth stimulation consultancy project in the DR was overwhelming....... ......hence the birth of FAIR4DR!

 In April 2012 Fair4DR visited Leonel Grullon’s Fairtrade certified 60-acre small holding in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic.

The sign reads: 

‘Fairtrade: It’s a grouping of international commerce that is based on dialogue, transparency and respect; it aspires to fairness in international commerce, contributing to sustainable development and improving the lives of medium and small-scale producers and workers.’

Below: Rolfi Chavalier introduces the Fair4DR concept in Spanish

Click here for Andy Ashcroft speaking in English

Many Dominican producers producers have Fairtrade potential, including with the products shown here:

Right: Coffee beans