The criteria of the EU-organic standards also contribute to significantly reducing the environmental footprint of banana production. Farmers producing their organic bananas under these standards have to comply with stricter cultivation methods, putting less pressure on the environment. This not only guarantees the farmers a healthier banana today, but also a more sustainable future tomorrow.

Small-scale producers, united in cooperatives, benefit from the guaranteed Fairtrade minimum price for the Fairtrade bananas, which covers their production costs. This encourages stability and it helps farmers plan for the future. Even for bananas with an industrial purpose, a minimum price is paid, meaning costs are covered and there is no uncertainty for the producer. Additionally, the Fairtrade Premium on top of this, provides them with additional funds to invest in their communities and in their businesses.

Not letting food go to waste is one of our main principles. We buy our growers entire harvest, preventing the dumping of unmarketable foods. Even the skins are being put to good use as a base for animal food.

To meet every need we have a storage facility in the Netherlands and we can deliver small to large volumes in boxes, bins or drums. Wonderfully versatile for ice creams, drinks, yoghurt, chocolates, juices, breads, smoothies, pancakes, beer, shampoo, baby food and more.

It is our pride and joy to bring you the best that the tropics have to offer, without bugs, blotches or other baddies: we make sure that our fruit complies with the highest marketing and retail standards.

In 1997, fourteen intrepid banana producers in southwestern Ecuador on the search for better markets tried their luck and shipped a container of bananas across the ocean.

By avoiding local middlemen and dealing directly with international buyers, they hoped to improve their quality of life and that of their families.

Since that humble beginning, Fairtrade bananas have brought great returns to the farmers of El Guabo who now export 23,000 boxes of Fairtrade bananas every week, half of which are certified organic.

One half of the cooperative’s employees are women, including one third in managerial positions. Farm owners own an average of 6 hectares of land.

They also hold a unique position as the only producer of Fairtrade bananas, also co-owner of an importer, AgroFair, who at the beginning gave them a hand with their first container.

This joint ownership of the supply chain gives smallholders a stronger voice in the trade and allows them to benefit more from the banana trade.