Co-op America: Tell Supermarkets to Stock Fair Trade Bananas

You know about Fair Trade coffee and Fair Trade tea, and maybe you've heard about Fair Trade fresh fruit, but you don't yet see it in your supermarket.

Fair Trade Certified™ tropical fruits have been available in the US since 2004, mostly found at natural foods stores and co-ops. In Europe, where Fair Trade fruit has been available since the mid-90s, sales of Fair Trade bananas have been growing at a rate of about 50 percent a year.

It's time to achieve that scale of growth in the United States.

Fair Trade assures that producers at the beginning of the supply chain are receiving a fair price for their labor. Also, unlike many conventional fruit plantations, where international standards for pesticide-use are disregarded, Fair Trade farmers adhere to all international pesticide legislation, with the most dangerous pesticides not used at all. Fair Trade means a fair deal for farmers, and a healthier environment for all of us.

Sign our letter to major supermarket chains asking for more Fair Trade fruit, and take action to start working with a supermarket in your community.

As a concerned supermarket shopper, I am writing to request that your store begin selling Fair Trade bananas in your produce section.

More and more customers are looking for Fair Trade foods, including bananas, because they support fair labor conditions and environmentally friendly farming practices. Fair Trade bananas are high-quality and delicious and should be available to customers for many reasons:

• Through Fair Trade certification, banana farmers earn a living wage that enables them to not only cover production costs but also send their children to school and provide medical care to themselves and their families. Fair Trade premiums are also often invested in programs that teach farmers about recycling, organics, reforestation, and other strategies for building healthy communities.

• Fair Trade certification standards forbid the use of the most dangerous toxic chemicals and pesticides, protecting workers in the field, and guaranteeing the safety of the bananas in your store.

• Fair Trade bananas are better for our environment, as they are not genetically modified, and are grown using sustainable farming practices such as, mulching, non-chemical weed control, filtering waste-water, recycling, and safe waste management.

Additionally, I’m concerned about the human rights and environmental records of large conventional banana companies. For example, Chiquita Brands Inc. recently paid a $25 million fine to the US government after pleading guilty to transacting with terrorist organizations in Colombia.

Listed below are several independent banana importers from whom your current distributor can buy Fair Trade Certified™ bananas. Please work with your stores and their distributor to contact these importers and start offering Fair Trade bananas today! Also, for further information on Fair Trade bananas, visit www.transfairusa.org.

Oke Bananas, www.okeusa.com
Turbana, www.turbana.com
Albert’s Organics, www.albertsorganics.com
Jonathan’s, www.jonathansorganic.com

By offering Fair Trade bananas, you will distinguish your supermarket as one with an eye for quality, concern for environmental preservation, and a commitment to socially responsible business practice. This will further earn you the loyalty and respect of your customers. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Your Name
Your City and State

Here's who's signed the letter to major supermarket chains and which local supermarkets they are targeting.

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