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Sustainable Hosannas

Abstract: Minnesota program promotes palm fronds from fair trade certified communities practicing sustainable forestry.

The week before Palm Sunday we discovered the following:

  • A congregation of about 1200 members will order approximately 700 palm fronds for Palm Sunday services.
  • Palm purchases for Palm Sunday may be worth up to 4.5 million dollars/year.
  • At least half of the farmers in the Central Peten of Guatemala earn an additional income from harvesting fronds, and more than a quarter of household heads support themselves exclusively by collecting fronds.
  • Each palm plant produces 2 to 5 harvestable leaves over a 2 to 4 month period.
  • Palm gathering can actually protect valuable natural forests.
  • The University of Minnesota's Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management (CINRAM) hopes you (or your congregation or your congregation's palm supplier) will be moved to participate in the Eco-Palms program and purchase palm fronds from fair-trade certified communities that practice sustainable forestry.

    (Vol. I, xxi, March 31, 2007 )

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