Highlights

Two pilot seasons tested whether supporting cherry exporters to work more closely with farmers could simultaneously raise incomes and improve worker conditions. Four commercial exporters participated across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Results from 2025 indicated that farmers working with partner exporters earned between USD 0.72 and USD 1.97 more per kilogram than comparable farmers, generating USD 688,564 in additional income across the season. Additionally, 265 workers received training on decent work and safety, while two partner exporters obtained SMETA ethical trade certification. These gains were supported by wider shifts, including the establishment of Lebanon’s first national cherry export certification and phytosanitary framework anchored within the Ministry of Agriculture.

Lebanon’s cherry sector: the opportunity and the challenge

Lebanon produces high-quality cherries, particularly in the Bekaa Valley, Akkar, and Mount Lebanon. However, fragmented farmer-exporter relationships, limited post-harvest capacity, and an absence of export certification have historically relegated the sector to low-value domestic trade. Syrian refugees often face informal conditions within the agricultural workforce alongside Lebanese host communities. International buyers increasingly require evidence of ethical sourcing and labour standard compliance as a condition of trade. The International Labour Organisation’s BOUZOUR project, funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), utilised a market systems approach to address these challenges by developing structured sourcing and export models that embed durable gains in commercial relationships.

2024: testing the win-win

The first season tested two models: a cooperative model with Nasr Rahme / FaV Lebanon and a cluster farmer model with NatAgri. The cooperative model partnered with three cooperatives in Ainata, Arsal, and Kaa El Reem, providing structured coordination for quality standards and price agreements. Sixty-five farmers participated, and those selling through the cooperative received a 51% price premium over wholesale, with average annual incomes rising by 37.6%. Daily wages for workers rose by 63.4%, from USD 8.20 to USD 13.39. In contrast, the cluster model with NatAgri worked directly with ten smallholder farmers. While it demonstrated feasibility, it highlighted barriers such as low buyer conversion and certification gaps, confirming that aggregation through cooperatives and institutional backing are vital for viability.

2025: building the enabling conditions for scale

The 2025 season faced severe frost that reduced cherry production across Lebanon by over 90%. Despite this, Nasr Rahme continued sourcing, and two new exporters, Fadel Trading and Biomass, joined the project. These companies co-invested substantially in export upgrading and post-harvest infrastructure alongside the International Labour Organisation. To support the whole sector, the project focused on four market system pillars: institutional foundations, buyer-facing market access, post-harvest infrastructure, and decent work compliance. A gap in any one of these areas would have limited the potential progress for farmers and workers.

Phytosanitary certification and institutional anchoring

Phytosanitary compliance is a prerequisite for exporting cherries to the EU. The project supported the development of Lebanon’s first national cherry export certification and phytosanitary framework, anchored within the Ministry of Agriculture and four chambers of commerce. Twenty extension agents were trained and pheromone traps were monitored on 60 farms in 2025 to support the sustained monitoring record that EU certification requires. This framework is now an institutional asset available to the entire sector. Additionally, GlobalG.A.P. certification was renewed for 14 Ainata cooperative farmers, and Fadel Trading obtained it for an anchor farmer as a proof of concept. Meeting EU residue standards also improved worker safety by reducing pesticide exposure for the seasonal workforce.

Market access support

Market access experts worked with partner exporters on strategies for EU and Gulf markets. All three partners participated in Fruit Attraction Madrid, a major international trade fair, to generate new buyer contacts. Press coverage, including features on platforms such as FreshPlaza, further helped attract international interest and build the commercial case for Lebanese produce.

Post-harvest technical improvements

Post-harvest handling is a critical bottleneck for export quality due to the perishability of cherries. Tailored improvement plans were developed for each exporter, covering the chain from harvest to delivery. Concrete results included Fadel Trading installing a pre-cooling system at its Tyre facility and Nasr Rahme upgrading its sorting line at Kaa El Reem to improve efficiency, uniformity, and hygiene while reducing contamination risks.

Decent work improvements and certifications

Fadel Trading and Biomass worked towards SMETA-aligned practices, including labour contracts and wage monitoring, with Fadel completing full certification. Workshops reached 265 workers, who also received personal protective equipment kits. Average daily wages under the Nasr Rahme cooperative model rose cumulatively by 74.4% between 2023 and 2025, reaching USD 14.30. Child labour among these farmers also declined significantly from 34% at baseline to 10.5% in 2025, supported by a new monitoring system introduced to identify and prevent risks directly.

Evidence from the comparison group

A comparison group of non-supported farmers was tracked to measure the impact of active exporter relationships. In 2025, non-supported farmers sold produce via wholesale channels for USD 1–5/kg. In contrast, partner farmers obtained USD 6–7.5/kg, even at low volumes, as exporters paid above-market prices to maintain sourcing networks through the frost season. This price difference reflects the value of the commercial relationships and quality positioning built through the intervention rather than growing conditions.

Way forward

The pilots established a commercial and decent work case for structured export models. Across both seasons, exporters co-invested USD 376,331 of their own resources. The number of international buyers expanded from four in 2024 to 11 in 2025, and cumulative farmer income is projected to reach USD 1.72 million by the end of 2026. The approach is transferable to Lebanon’s broader stone fruit sector, including apricot and plum crops, which face similar structural constraints regarding seasonal labour and export readiness.