The Co-operative was the first UK supermarket to sell Fairtrade Bananas. Fairtrade bananas mean a fairer price for the grower but it doesn’t mean unfair prices for you. We have been selling Fairtrade bananas since 2000 and now you can get the rest of your 5-a-day the Fairtrade way:
Going bananas in Ghana.....
The very first Fairtrade bananas we sold were grown from farmers of the Volta River Estates Ltd. As a result of your support the farmers were able to buy thinks such as mosquito nets for workers and bicycles so that they don't have to walk the miles to work The fairtrade premium also went towards helping the community through providing things such as uniforms for school children and new school buildings.
......and now in Panama!
More recently, we are proud to have opened similar opportunities to farmers in Panama, as we brought in the country’s very first fruits exported under Fairtrade terms. Our support for the Coobana co-operative –just one example of how we are developing cooperative to co-operative trade – extends to additional investment in the provision of clean water, sanitation and renewable energy for the 4,000 members in the communities.
Florentina Beitia COOBANA, Panama
Packingstation Worker
“I have worked at COOBANA for 20 years; I feel happy.... I think if the people coming behind us continue with this [Fairtrade] vision of the future, we can go far, to expand and grow.”
To find out more about Florentina click here.
William Quintero COOBANA, Panama
Harvest Worker
“Now with the Fairtrade fruit project I can see that there are benefits for the community, and there are good prospects for the future.”
To find out more about William click here.
Emilio Miranda COOBANA, Panama
Harvest Worker
“Our new role as producer of Fairtrade fruit has brought about very positive short term benefits. I hope that, thanks to all these benefits, the cooperative will become stronger.”
To find out more about Emilio click here.
