Nature's Pride goes Fair Trade

Every day we rely on the strong relationships with our growers. We work closely together to grow produce with respect for people and nature. Our common goal is to take responsibility for the impact of our activities on the society and environment. After setting up our Ethical Trading Initiative in 2006 and since then various social projects in our grower’s communities, we are now ready to take the next step by going Fair Trade.

As of January 2012 our mangos will receive an IMO Fair Trade certificate called ‘Fair for Life - Fair Trade’.

‘Fair for Life – Fair Trade’ and ‘For Life’ by IMO
IMO (Institute for Market ecology), is a renowned non profit certification institute for organic, sustainable and ethical control with more than 20 years of experience and thousands of certified operations in more than 70 countries worldwide. With the IMO Fair Tradecertificate called ‘Fair for Life - Fair Trade’ we are sure that our products live up to these strict Fair Trade standards. Next to ‘Fair for Life – Fair Trade’ there is also a ‘For Life’ certificate that focuses on the internal company processes; we see ‘For Life’ as a kind of Global G.A.P. for social responsibility. The requirements for ‘Fair for Life - Fair Trade’ are the same as for ‘For Life’ plus a guarantee for a minimum price and an extra premium. When passing one of these independent IMO audits, the grower proves that the social requirements and good working conditions are ensured for all workers.

‘Fair for Life – Fair Trade’: Fair price & additional social premium
Together with the grower we agree on a Fair Trade price for their produce. The price must cover all costs to produce, plus make a fair profit. On top of this there is a Fair Trade premium being collected which will be invested into local social development projects from which the local workers benefit directly.

Big social impact thanks to small premium per box
We collect only a small premium on each carton without substantially increasing the selling price. Therefore we can implement the Fair Trade system on our total production without pricing the product out of the market.  Because of the bulk quantities we sell, this results in a high total amount collected for social improvements and projects.

We start with mangos, many products to follow…
Our aim is to offer year round Fair Trade mangos to all our customers starting in January 2012. Each Fair Trade mango will be easily recognizable by its distinctive black ‘Fair for Life - Fair Trade’ sticker. Certifying our mangos is just the beginning. We will continue to add new products from different growers around the world to one of these IMO certificates. Ensuring every product we import is truly produced and handled in a fair way, without substantially changing the price.
We plan to have 25% of our turnover under one of these certificates by the end of 2012.  And 50% by 2013. Our ultimate goal is that 100% of our growers supply us under these certificates.  With more than 350 growers, or growers associations in 60 countries, we have a huge, but rewarding challenge ahead of us.
Now that is what Nature’s Pride considers to be Fair Trade…!

For more information please contact our Social Responsibility Manager, Els Lindeboom.
T: +31 174 219157
E: els@naturespride.nl