Civil society representatives from 20 member states and representatives of banana and pineapple producers in Colombia, Equador and Windward Islands (French Polynesia) were gathered in Berlin from the 17th to 20th of March for the official start of the “Make Fruit Fair” project, implemented in Portugal by IMVF.
During four days, several actions that will be developed over the next three years (life time of the project) were discussed and planned, having been given special attention to the activity of major supermarket chains, regarding the purchasing and distribution of tropical fruit in the European market as well as the performance of 20 European governments participators in this Project in terms of regulation of trade policies.
The purpose of the Project “Make Fruit Fair” focuses on the promotion of a sustainable and fair distribution chain of fruit in particular for bananas and pineapples. This Project stands for society and environmental rights in the producer countries in order to create opportunities to express their concerns and encouraging new policies and international trade practices.
Why promoting an European campaign associated with banana and pineapple? Banana is the most traded fruit worldwide and the international trade of pineapple is rapidly expanding with one in every two pineapples produced intended for exportation. The banana and pineapple distribution chain are very similar, being both produced in the same countries and comprising the same fruit companies. The violation of labor and environmental rights are common, both in the banana and pineapple industry, and this situation is getting worst every day in most countries.
What are the goals which the Project “Make Fruit Fair” wants to reach?
- That the supermarkets as powerful actors in the distribution chain, pay fair prices to its suppliers
- That the fruit companies and supermarkets guarantee workers decent wages and that their labor rights are respected, as well as the environmental rights – reducing toxic agrochemicals;
- That the governments regulate supermarkets purchasing power, ensure that companies are responsible for working conditions in producing countries, and support policies that encourage fair and sustainable fruit production.
For the project to achieve the goals sets by itself, the participation of all consumers is required to influence authorities to make banana and pineapple chain distribution fair and sustainable, because development is a shared responsibility. What will be your role?
This project is funded by the European Union, implemented in Portugal by the IMVF, and internationally by different Civil Society Organizations of Romania, Germany, UK, Czech Republic, Cameroon, Germany, Italy, Malta, France, Colombia, Belgium, Austria, Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Latvia, Poland and Hungary.
Learn more about this project here.