Humanitas360 fosters cooperative of inmates to produce organic foods

After organizing the handicraft workshops at the Tremembé Penitentiary for Women 2, the Humanitas360 Institute has kicked started the project to create a second cooperative of inmates, this time at the Tremembé Penitentiary for Men 2. The 1,200 square meters vegetable garden, which already exists in the premises of the facility, will grow in size and quality, producing certified organic foods.

In addition to supplying food to other correctional facilities in the region, the cooperative will also produce tea, spices and preserves for sale in organic markets in various parts of the country. The consultants Mauro Spalding and João Padula, who have extensive experience in organic family farming and cooperatives, were hired by H360 to support the project.

The specialists have been ordering an analysis of the soil and the potable water available in the area to identify the existing resources. However, the most important aspect at this stage is to get to know the inmates that already work in the garden, developing trust and a sense of teamwork among the team, which are essential to the cooperative culture.

The next steps include phases of planning, developing a business model and training the inmates. In parallel to the production of organic vegetables, the creation of a line of preserved certified organic products aims to open doors for the co-op to reach the marketplace, which will maximize the income of the members of the co-op and make the business viable.