Building a Fairtrade future in South Africa

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In 1994, life was very different for Johnny Boyse, working on Bergendal, a fruit farm in South Africa. The end of apartheid meant people could no longer be separated on the basis of race, but for Johnny and his fellow workers, the economic divide was as deep as ever. 85% of farm land was owned by the minority white farmers and agriculture was dominated by white-owned large scale farms, while the black workforce was largely landless, uneducated and disorganised. Even without apartheid, pay for black workers was low, living conditions were grim and there was little chance for self improvement.

Browse the rows of brightly coloured citrus fruits in your local supermarket – chances are they have come from South Africa. Oranges, lemons, clementines and mandarins are grown on farms all over the country. During the apartheid years this fruit was subject to a worldwide consumer boycott, now shoppers choosing Fairtrade citrus are building a brighter future for South Africa.

Unique model

The South African government’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) programme aims to bridge this divide. Land, business ownership, management skills and knowledge is gradually transferred into the hands of those who suffered most under apartheid. Fairtrade standards in South Africa include a BEE policy. It’s a unique model in Fairtrade because, as well as improving their lives through the investment of the Fairtrade premium, it requires producers that depend on hired labour to actively contribute to BEE targets, so their employees take a greater share in the ownership and management of the farms they work on. By workers gradually taking on ownership of the farms, they become self governing communities, working together for the benefit of all. Most Fairtrade certified producer groups of fruit, rooibos tea and wine in South Africa are large farms that use hired labour. The more remote farms are more like settlements, whole communities built on fruit, with schools, clinics and row after row of workers housing. Some farms, such as Bergendal, have been certified for around five years. Now Johnny combines his role as irrigation specialist with his responsibilities on the Joint Body, the elected committee that decides how the Fairtrade premium will be spent to benefit the community. One of the first things they funded was a community hall for meetings and social gatherings. Now there are big plans for more projects, including tree planting. Being part of the Joint Body has meant new skills for Johnny. ‘I have learnt to listen to the needs of people and to communicate those to management. As Joint Body members we must put the needs of the community first.’

New farms

Growing demand for Fairtrade citrus fruit has already brought nine new farms into the Fairtrade system in 2008. The fruit they produce is in UK supermarkets from April to October when fruit from Europe is out of season. The process for certifying new farms began in 2007 and included running Fairtrade information days to answer questions about the standards, the application process and supply chains. Fairtrade Liaison Officers supported the farmers throughout the process, helping them to prepare for their inspections and elect their Joint Bodies. The newly certified groups join more established Fairtrade certified producers such as Luthando Farms, where 75% of the limited company is now owned by the Luthando Trust, made up of current and former employees and their spouses. In the long term, the Trust aims to acquire a 100% sharehold in the company.

Ncediswa Jack works at Luthando and is part of the Joint Body. She describes the demands of her role: ‘You are trusted by the people who elect you and you have the responsibility of making sure their needs are fulfilled.’ Her colleague Simon Jacobs is one worker who appreciates her efforts to distribute the premium to help families. ‘I used to pay R50 (about £3.50) to the person who was looking after my child. With the crèche, I survive better because I no longer pay that R50 to anybody.’ Just as millions used their combined consumer power to protest against the injustices of apartheid and bring about change for the disadvantaged, choosing Fairtrade today acts like a reverse boycott, helping to build a new model for businesses to promote sustainable development, as well as giving workers such as Johnny the chance to play his part in a brighter future for the Rainbow Nation.

Read more at www.fairtrade.org.uk/citrus

Action

Buy Fairtrade citrus at Asda, Booths, Budgens, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco

Glossary 

Joint Body
Elected worker representatives and a minority of management representatives sit on the Joint Body. They decide how the Fairtrade premium will be spent to best benefit the community.

Liaison Officers
Provide information, advice and training to producers applying for Fairtrade certification. Liaison Officers help producers comply with Fairtrade standards and seize new market opportunities.