World's first Fairtrade melons arrive in the UK
The world’s first ever Fairtrade certified melons produced by a small growers’ co-operative COODAP (Cooperativa de Desenvolvimento Agroindustrial Potiguar) from Mossoro in northern Brazil, will be available in Asda and Morrisons from this week.
The co-operative which has 20 members, is the first producer group to receive Fairtrade certification for melon production. Maria Do Socorro Santos Ribeiro of COODAP, says the farmers are looking forward to receiving a fair price and having a international market for their fruit. ‘The Fairtrade certification is very important to us and for the first time we have organised ourselves to supply melons at a fair price to an international market. ‘
Maria, who like most of the group only has eight hectares to farm, says she thinks Fairtrade certification will mean better prospects for the children of her community and better community cohesion. ‘With few job opportunities in this area, young people go south looking for construction jobs, and when they fail to find regular employment, they end up sleeping rough. Perhaps we can attract people back now and they can build a better future for themselves and their families right here.’
The farmers hope to use the Fairtrade premium, which is the extra the farmers group will receive for business or social development projects, in the case of melons 10 cents a kilo, on a digital station to facilitate internet access: ‘We are quite cut off in our community without internet access. We are going to use the premiums to buy a few second-hand computers so that people in the community do not get left out in this digital age. One or two will also go to the school.’
The new Fairtrade fruit is the latest outcome of a project started in 2004 by Univeg Direct (UK) Ltd. Univeg approached the Brazilian Pillar Group about working together in developing Fairtrade projects in Brazil. The first product to be developed was mangoes and since then Univeg Direct (UK) Ltd has been working to bring more marginalised small producers of mango and other produce into the Fairtrade system. Melons were added to the Fairtrade Standards for Fresh Fruit earlier this year by FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International), opening the door for COODAP.
Geoff Chappell, Fairtrade Development Manager for Univeg Direct (UK) said: ‘It is very exciting to finally see the Fairtrade certified melons in the supermarket. It’s a great result for everyone who have been involved in the project over the last two years, which includes not just us, but, Pillar, Sebrae RN (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service) and of course the farmers themselves. We hope to keep bringing new producers from the region into the Fairtrade system and to keep expanding this category.’
Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation’s Executive Director said ‘I would like to congratulate all the partners involved in this fantastic achievement and I am delighted that the project has finally come to fruition. The launch of Fairtrade melons means Brazilian small growers will gain access to the UK market which they previously thought was impossible. The commitment by Asda and Morrsions means consumers will have a new Fairtrade treat in the New Year, making it easier than ever for people to enjoy their Five a day the Fairtrade way in 2010 ’
Fairtrade provides better terms of trade and increased market access for disadvantaged producers and workers in the developing world.
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Notes to Editors
1. The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label is now recognised by 72% of UK consumers and appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and their families – across 58 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.
2. Over 4,500 products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark including coffee, tea, herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, apples, pears, plums, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, satsumas, clementines, mandarins, lychees, coconuts, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, cakes & snacks, honey, jams & preserves, chutney & sauces, rice, quinoa, herbs & spices, seeds, nuts & nut oil, wines, beers, rum, confectionary, muesli, cereal bars, yoghurt, ice-cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub and cotton products including clothing, homeware, cloth toys, cotton wool and olive oil.
3. 7 in 10 households purchase Fairtrade goods, including an extra 1.3 million more households in 2008, helping Fairtrade sales reach an estimated £700m in 2008, a 43% increase on the previous year. There are over 460 producer organisations selling to the UK and by the end of October 2008 872 certified producer groups were in the global Fairtrade system, representing more than 1.5 million farmers and workers.