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"The people who work for Stellar are its greatest asset. Their enthusiasm, drive and sheer hard work have ensured that our dream of building a successful, sustainable organic farming and winery operation has been realised. The workers now play a role in decision making, where they participate in smaller groups where they can work for fair solutions. Projects funded by the premium include a commercial organic vegetable garden and fencing for the workers’ houses. We are also planning to build a new community centre." - Maria Malan.

Maria Malan started as a domestic worker at Stellar Farming in Western Cape, South Africa, in 1976. When her mother died in 1974 she was responsible for her younger sisters Sophia, Eliza, Anna and Hesta and her brothers Joseph, Piet, Filemon, Booi and George, as well as caring for four orphans whom she brought up as her own. Maria’s natural leadership allowed her to work her way up to become farm manager, in charge of 200 staff and of allocating teams to each of the supervisors at the start of the season. Maria has also chaired Stellar’s Fairtrade Committee as well as previously being elected onto the South Africa Fairtrade Committee.

Since Stellar became Fairtrade certified in November 2003, the employees’ quality of life has greatly improved. Projects funded by the Fairtrade premium include free housing, electricity and water for permanent farm workers and a trained health care committee for workers. All schooling and childcare facilities are subsidised by Stellar Winery and workers are encouraged to pursue further education. Courses range from personal hygiene to winemaking. Other projects include an organic vegetable garden, where the vegetables grown can be sold at the local market to fund tertiary education for workers’ children.