Organic suppliers give back
Growing produce organically might be better for the Earth, but organic suppliers also are trying to be socially responsible.
One such interrelated concept is Fair Trade.
“Fair Trade respects people and the planet,” said Chris Ford, organic category manager for Vancouver-based The Oppenheimer Group. “It enables transparency and empowers communities.”
Ford said consumers recognize Fair Trade from sugar, coffee and other non-perishable items, but it’s becoming more recognized in the produce arena.
Kellee Harris, western region business director for The Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, said a Fair-Trade program complements an organic program well, for several reasons, including helping communities and being appealing to customers.
“Both appeal to a socially conscious consumer who makes moral-based purchasing decisions,” she said.
“Consumers perceive an increase in quality, value and health from Fair Trade and organic products.”
This past spring, The Giumarra Cos. expanded its Fair Trade USA-certified grape offerings from Mexico to include Giumarra proprietary varieties Early Sweet, Arra 29 “passion fire” and Arra 30, thereby increasing the bounty of sustainable grapes grown by its partner grower Videxport.
“Premiums earned through the Fair-Trade program are used to support onsite medical and dental clinics, worker housing and onsite educational facilities,” Harris said.
Other organic suppliers created their own social responsibility programs.
Organics Unlimited Inc., San Diego, has a social responsibility program called GROW that continues to thrive, said Mayra Velazquez de Leon, president and CEO.
“This year, we are proud to expand our programs and services for entire communities in our banana growing regions with a focus on health care,” she said. “We will once be again celebrating GROW month during the month of September.
During GROW month, we take the opportunity to highlight the benefits of our social responsibility programs, as well as highlight the benefits of our delicious, organic bananas.”
Organics Unlimited promotes GROW month along with its organic bananas through in-store displays and activities, social media channels, its blog, and advertising in publications digitally and in print.
“This year we will again be showcasing our GROW program through advertisements placed on bus sides in the Portland, Ore., area,” Velazquez de Leon said.
Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Robinson Fresh’s organic brand, Tomorrow’s Organics, has committed to “provide produce with a purpose.”
“Through providing produce with a purpose, we support Sustainable Harvest International, a nonprofit that provides training and tools to rural farmers, enabling them to overcome poverty and protect precious tropical forests at the same time,” said Michael Castagnetto, vice president of sourcing.
Through techniques such as organic vegetable gardens, wood-conserving stoves and seed saving, families learn how to use sustainable agriculture to produce healthy food for their families, protect ecosystems and increase their incomes, Castagnetto said.
“SHI uses an innovative five-phase approach to solving the agricultural, ecological and economic problems of Central America,” he said.
“This approach is hands-on and long-term, ensuring that when families graduate from our program, the knowledge that they gain continues to feed them and protect the environment.”
