Sustainable Harvest International

Background and History

Sustainable Harvest International was established in 1997 by Florence Reed, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Panama, to deliver training to rural farming communities in Central America. Reed started the group after viewing the slash-and-burn agriculture techniques of the locals in Panama at the time, and decided to focus on “practical training in more sustainable agriculture methods.” The group initially concentrated on reducing deforestation through sustainable agriculture and later incorporated business training and regenerative methods to support long-term self-sufficiency in such communities. Reed formally launched the group in 1997 and expanded from Panama to Honduras. The project initially had 50 participating families and later spread to Belize and Nicaragua. The group claims to have worked with over 4,000 families and to have planted over 5 million trees since 1997. ³

In 2025, the organization closed its offices and projects in Belize and Panama, stating that it would concentrate its resources on its Honduras-based activities. ²

Activities

Sustainable Harvest International has operated multi-year programs that provide technical assistance in regenerative organic farming, including agroforestry systems, diversified cropping, and soil health management. The group states that it has worked with hundreds of families annually to teach them how to grow organic gardens while avoiding deforestation. The group has also offered business development support to help farmers market their products and generate income. ²

The group has long operated in Honduras, and later expanded activities to Panama, Belize, and Nicaragua. The group was not active in Nicaragua as of 2025, and that year, announced plans to close its offices and projects in Belize and Panama, stating that the “strategic decision was influenced by a range of factors, including the current geopolitical climate and shifts in nonprofit funding—challenges that many international organizations are currently facing.” The group stated that it would concentrate resources and activities on its Honduras operations. ²

The group was one of the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2024 Commitment Makers, and announced a three-year program to “enable 1,200 small-scale farmers to regenerate over 12,800 acres of degraded land, plant 1 million trees, and increase incomes and food security for 8,000 people.” ⁴

Finances

Sustainable Harvest International derives most of its revenue from individual contributions and foundation grants. In fiscal year 2024, the organization reported $1,275,977 in revenue, primarily from contributions, against $2,002,977 in expenses and net assets of $914,590. ⁵