40 Women Improving Income through a Sweet Business

Women entrepreneurs who specialize in sweet and baked goods are already recognized in their rural areas for the quality of their products. Having experienced growth and recognition within their communities, they decided to try and improve their sales reach by participating in a fair in a nearby town. After obtaining the necessary permits, they tried their luck at the La Cocha fair, located 20km from their rural area.

During their first experiences at this fair, they faced several obstacles, especially in logistics and expenses due to the distance between the two locations, which was a real challenge for them. Thanks to the network they had built, they were able to get help from a family in La Cocha who provided them with space to store their sales tools, products, and supplies.

To increase their sales, they had to reorganize their production activities. They now produce on Mondays and Wednesdays for sales in their local area, and on Fridays, they prepare for the La Cocha fair the next day (Saturday). They transport their products in boxes and move around on motorcycles, as it is the only means of transportation they have.

The group members state that this experience was enriching as they tried a new sales method, becoming mobile vendors and roaming around the fair to offer their products. This new experience of becoming street vendors was successful, as they managed to sell all their products. Additionally, they were able to apply the marketing and sales knowledge gained from ACDI training!

Having achieved success at the fair, they decided to locate another extra sales space in a more remote area, in the Juan Bautista Alberdi. They participated in an entrepreneur fair, exhibiting their sweet and baked goods. This space not only meant an opportunity to boost sales, also allowed them to meet other entrepreneurs and exchange different strategies and experiences. This participation is still a significant challenge for them as distance is still a hindrance. Therefore, they continue to sell in their local area and at the La Cocha fair.

The women emphasize that the training they received from ACDI was instrumental in deciding to start their business. Moreover, thanks to the support of the professionals, they managed to create their brand name, which empowered them!

The work of these women is noteworthy as they continue to grow and expand their opportunities.

Thanks to everyone who made this work possible!

In ACDI we work together with various allies to support the family scale entrepreneurs in Tucumán, Argentina. The goal is to promote sustainable business ecosystems that benefit all parties and take good care of the environment as well. 

"From the ground to the Table" is a program that involves the commercialization of products from small and family scale farming producers, entrepreneurs and artisans in 25 locations all around Tucumán Province through a pre-sales system and a logistics chain based on the territorial work of allied organizations. This initiative was launched by grassroot organization TUCMA and institutionally supported by the National Institute of Family Agriculture, Indigenous Peasant (SAFCI), Tucumán delegation.

With ACDI’s incorporation to this project, this initiative was strengthened by adding two more towns- La Madrid and Monteagudo- to the commercialization chain, incorporating with them, new buyers of new sellers with new products. 

First experience was quite a success. Fruts and vegetable boxes at a fair price and good quality (direct from small producer’s soils around the Province) were offered in the first month of the project on these towns: territorial promoters members of ACDI’s team played a fundamental role in implementing the pre-sales system by making contact with their neighbors and coordinating the final sale. 

The Commercialization chain allowed also that “Women Entrepreneurs of La Madrid” expand their market to 25 new spots in the province. This in the first time that they can make a bulk sale of their homemade sweets and marmalades outside their own town. 

From this experience, Delina -territorial promoter of ACDI in Monteagudo- commented: "The project started the best way possible in our town, buyers were satisfied by it, not only for the affordable price but for the quality of the products. The economic situation is very difficult here, so this type of initiatives are received enthusiastically".  Pamela -territorial promoter in La Madrid- added: "It is public knowledge that in La Madrid nobody controls prices, so having included new products in the local market has generated that many of the greengrocers lower a little the prices (to a fair value) of some vegetables and fruits. Also as Women entrepreneurs of La Madrid use vegetables and fruit to make their products, this opportunity did not only improved their sales but also implied less costs of production”. 

Join this network and help populations from the north of Argentina to develop stronger local communities based on solidarity and joint effort!