Empowering Uganda’s Small Farmers, One Regeneratively Grown Pineapple at a Time

The sweet, golden pineapple is beloved worldwide, but in Uganda, farmers grow the fruit in ways that protect the environment while also supporting the future of their communities.

According to the International Trade Administration, 68% of Uganda’s working population is employed in agriculture, producing staple crops like coffee, sugar, corn, beans, and fruit. However, much of this population relies on subsistence farming (growing just enough to feed their families) due to challenges like limited infrastructure, high transportation costs, and inadequate storage facilities. 

To address these barriers and promote sustainable livelihoods for the farmers when sourcing the pineapple for our Regeneratively Grown Organic Dried Pineapple, our team of expert product innovators, in collaboration with sourcing partner Amäzi Foods, takes an innovative approach.

The Luwero District: Where Regenerative Methods Rule

Thrive Market Regeneratively Grown Organic Dried Pineapple is a naturally sweet and tangy snack made with fresh pineapples from Uganda’s Luwero region. Here, small co-op farmers have long used regenerative techniques — even before there was a name for them.

As Renee Dunn, the founder and CEO of Amäzi, puts it, “The natural practices of farmers in the region are organic in their approach, and in large part, have always been regenerative, regardless of the growing trend.” She adds that their methods are among the most eco-friendly for growing pineapples in particular, because they conserve water and preserve soil health. 

Unlike other farmers in the country and even across the globe, these growers avoid herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers. They also refrain from tilling the land, which helps prevent erosion and water runoff, and periodically use cover cropping to support biodiversity. 

These practices are all major tenets of regenerative agriculture and make a positive impact on our planet, especially when compared to the methods used by Costa Rica, the world’s largest exporter of pineapples. According to Banana Link, a nonprofit focused on fair tropical fruit trades, Costa Rican plantations rely heavily on over 50 toxic agrochemicals, which can have harmful effects on human and aquatic life. 

The Crown Jewel of Tropical Fruits

In Uganda, our merchandising team found a superior pineapple source that’s not only better for the environment, but also for you and your tastebuds. According to Regenerative Farmers of America, regeneratively grown crops contain a higher nutritional content and have an improved taste and flavor compared to conventionally managed crops. 

“Ugandan pineapples are known for being incredibly sweet and less acidic compared to those from other popular exporting countries like Costa Rica, Hawaii, and The Philippines”, says Dunn. “The combination of well-distributed rainfall, abundant sunlight, and rich volcanic soils in the area contribute to their intense sweetness.”

Once the pineapples are picked at their peak ripeness, they’re transported to a nearby facility, where they’re carefully hand-peeled, sliced, oven-dried, and seasoned in curated blends that are made without added sugars, sulfites, or preservatives. A rigorous quality check at the end of the process ensures each bite-sized piece of pineapple retains its perfect chewiness and balanced flavor right before packaging.

A More Equitable Future

For residents of the Luwero District — especially those in the town of Zirobwe where the processing facility is located — employment opportunities are scarce, and connectivity to the outside world is limited. “There is not a lot of business in the area”, explains Dunn. “Most roads are hard to access and people need to travel far to look for work.”

The facility offers employees substantial benefits, including daily meals, paid sick days, annual medical check-ups, and, most importantly, exposure to the global market. These benefits help provide job stability while broadening the wider community’s economic foundation.

According to the World Trade Organization, increased trade can be a powerful tool in reducing poverty. This rings especially true for low-income African populations where many workers previously earned as little as $2 a day. However, trade remains difficult for rural farmers in landlocked countries like Uganda, where middlemen typically control transactions for high-demand crops rather than fruits like pineapples.

Amäzi aims to overcome these challenges by eliminating intermediaries and bringing trade opportunities directly to smallholder pineapple farmers. This model adds revenue streams for the farmers and ensures that premiums go directly to them instead of to middlemen. Keeping every stage of production within Uganda also contributes to a more ethical supply chain. “All too often, businesses may source fairly, but bring the highest value components of the final processing to other countries and more established economies,” Dunn notes.

Through meaningful partnerships with suppliers like Amäzi, who make it their mission to bridge the gap between source and consumers, we hope to  strengthen our impact on the planet, and enrich the lives of people who live on it.