The Guava Tree
Initiative
Planting trees. Building sustainability. Changing communities.
Join the Guava Tree Initiative and help us plant 10,000 white guava trees in rural El Salvador. For just $30, you can plant a tree on the
Stephen Foundation Farm and create lasting change for communities
living in extreme poverty.
About the
Initiative
El Salvador's rural areas face a harsh reality of malnutrition, food insecurity, and limited economic development. The Guava Tree Initiative offers a holistic solution by creating agricultural opportunities for subsistence farmers, directly addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty.
The model farm is a long-term resource to increase local food production, research new crops and develop new markets.
Planting 10,000 guava trees will...
...Contribute to the sustainability of the Stephen Foundation Farm
...And support our mission to provide a more prosperous future for El Salvador
The guava orchard will support:
Long-term Sustainability
Create long-term sustainability for the Farm
Job Creation
Open 50 new full-time jobs within the community
Economic Growth
Strengthen the economy in rural areas
Income Streams
Develop new possible income streams for local farmers
Each generous gift of $30 will sponsor the planting and care of one white guava tree on the model farm. Your tax-deductible donation directly benefits subsistence farmers in El Salvador and ensures the Farm will continue to be a blessing for years to come.
Donate NowThe White
Guava Tree
The white guava tree lifecycle:
2-8 weeks
for seeds to germinate
3-4 years
to bear fruit
40-50 years
lifespan, producing fruit year-round with irrigation (9 months/year)
Guava trees can live
40 to 50 years and will
produce fruit year-round!
Plant your guava tree for $30 and help us reach our goal by clicking the donate button below!
Donate $30The Model Farm
The farm's mission is to foster sustainable agricultural development that empowers rural families to overcome poverty.
The Integrated Farm Model Strategy and Why It Works
The Integrated Farm Model Strategy is a three-in-one approach that combines production, innovation, and enterprise on a single farm. Unlike traditional single-focus programs, this model creates a system where each activity strengthens the others - maximizing impact and sustainability.
The Three Pillars of the Integrated Farm Model
Farm to Family
(Production)
Produces fresh, nutritious food that directly supports local feeding programs, ensuring children and vulnerable families have the nutritional foundation required for health, stability and long-term productivity.
Farm to Farmer
(Innovation)
Provides agricultural assistance services, training, and ongoing technical support to help farmers improve yields, diversify crops, and adopt more sustainable and profitable practices.
Farm to Market
(Enterprise)
Tests and develops profitable crops, fosters social enterprises, and connects farmers to markets - building a stronger local economy and reducing dependence on outside aid.
This strategy works because it:
Creates a powerful local resource: Supplies fresh, nutritious food to local feeding programs, offers year-round technical support to farmers, and provides a supportive ecosystem for the development of agribusinesses.
Extends impact through partnerships: The farm provides a platform where nonprofit organizations, government programs, and private-sector partners can plug in and use its resources - multiplying reach and lowering costs.
Builds a resilient financial model: Income from social enterprises and other farm activities supports ongoing operations, reducing long-term reliance on outside funding.
Demonstrates replicable success: Operating as a visible, integrated system makes the model easier to understand, adapt, and replicate in other communities, multiplying its impact.
Leverages resources: Assets like land, equipment, administrative capacity, and staff serve multiple purposes, reducing overhead costs.
The Bottom Line
The Integrated Farm Model delivers impact on three levels:
Feeds children and vulnerable families today.
Equips farmers with tools and knowledge for tomorrow.
Builds a local economy that can sustain itself in the future.
This integrated approach provides the stability, technical support, and access to markets smallholder farmers need.
Frequently Asked Questions
The goal is to plant 10,000 guava trees in order to make the model farm in El Salvador sustainable, as well as increase employment opportunities and promote agricultural development.
Our research shows that every $1 invested in the Guava Tree Initiative will result in $6 of benefit for the local economy. 10,000 guava trees will create more than 50 full-time jobs and generate enough revenue to sustain the Farm for the foreseeable future. In addition, it will have environmental benefits like land erosion mitigation, improved air quality, and habitats for wildlife.
The Farm is owned and operated by Fundacion Esteban (the Stephen Foundation), a Salvadoran non-profit organization.
The white guava grows well in tropical climates, is financially viable, and has a growing internal market. This labor-intensive crop capitalizes on El Salvador's biggest resource, its hardworking people. The white variety (different from the pink) is crisp and eaten fresh. It has the potential to become the tropical apple and replace imported fruits.
The white guava tree, with irrigation, can produce fruit for 9 months out of the year (from June to February).
Each tree, after maturity, can produce 50-80 pounds per year.
El Salvador's economic challenges require sustainable and holistic solutions that address the root causes of poverty, violence, and social disintegration. Faith-driven marketplace strategies can help address issues of corruption, create more equitable jobs, and stimulate economic production in critical sectors. The Farm is helping to care for vulnerable people, fulfilling the biblical mandate to "open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor" (Deuteronomy 15:11).
See Our Impact
Photos from the
Stephen Foundation Farm and
rural
communities in El Salvador
Plant Hope Today
Every $30 donation plants one white guava tree and supports sustainable development
Get in Touch
Have questions?
We'd love to hear from you.