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Winners of Fairtrade Awards announced

Dear friends,
We are proud to share the eight winners of the first-ever Fairtrade Awards. Over 100 producer groups, companies and individuals applied or were nominated for the awards. The panel of judges was impressed by the breadth and diversity of the entries.

“It was so telling that Fairtrade really is a movement, because it’s found support from such a broad spectrum of people,” said Jennifer Stapper, Chief of the Communications Section at UN Volunteers who served on the panel of judges.

Other judges included Markus Arbenz, Executive Director of the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM); Mandy Moussouris, Fair Trade Project Manager at the Environmental Monitoring Group in South Africa

 Read more   

Small Producer Organizations

David of Kibinge accepts award for small producers in Africa

Africa: Kibinge Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society, Ltd.

Kibinge Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society, Ltd, has set up a savings and credit programme to provide credit to members and non-members at an affordable rate and a farm supply shop. Kibinge also performed well in complying with the Fairtrade Standards.

  • Other finalists included: Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union, Ltd in Malawi, and the Imenti Tea Factory Company, Ltd. in Kenya

Asia: Marginalised Organic Producers Association (MOPA) in Sri Lanka

Members of MOPA dedicate 75 percent of their Fairtrade Premium to projects proposed by the farmers themselves. The primary focus is on improving productivity and product quality, and sustainable production methods.

  • Other finalists included: Manarcadu Social Service Society in India, and KSU Gayo Mandiri in Indonesia

Latin America & the Caribbean: Cooperativa Caficultores de Antioquia in Colombia
The coffee farmers in this cooperative created a detailed plan to invest Fairtrade Premium in social projects, and increase workers’ welfare, and productivity. The organization has worked hard to reduce non-conformities with the Fairtrade Standards.

  • Other finalists include: Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples Bananera del Atlántico of Panama and Cooperativa Central de Caficultores del Huila of Colombia

Workers' Premium Committee

Africa: Harvest, Ltd.

The workers at Harvest LTD launched a 5-year strategic plan focused on gender and environmental protection just one year after becoming Fairtrade certified. Their Premium money supports schools in the community, with extra support to ensure girls can attend, and environmental projects.

  • Other finalists included: Liki River Farm – Longonot Horticulture Division in Kenya, and the Volta River Estates Limited (VREL) in Ghana

Asia: Stassen Bio Tea Project in Sri Lanka

The workers in the Stassen Bio Tea Project have elected to invest in essential transport services that are key to improving the lives of people in the communities. The purchase of a bus that runs three times a day to the nearest town has dramatically improved school attendance and access to other services.

  • Other finalists included: The Coonoor Tea Estates Company Ltd in India, and Thiashola Estate, Thiashola Plantations Private Ltd in India

Latin America & the Caribbean: Coporacion Rosalba Zapata Cardona in Colombia

The Rosalba Zapata Cardona Housing Project has not only created dignified living spaces for 397 workers and their families, but also gainful employment for many more in the surrounding area.

  • Other finalists include: Fundación de Trabajadores de Comercio Justo de Urabá  in Colombia, and the Asociación Civil Flores del Monte in Argentina

Fairest Trader - All Good Organics

All Good Logo

All Good Organics, trading as Karma Cola in New Zealand

All Good Organics is a 100 percent Fairtrade company producing a range of three Fairtrade soft drinks, including Karma Cola – the first Fairtrade organic cola. Karma Cola gives cola nut farmers in Sierra Leone a market for a crop that has only been traded locally in the past.

Fairest Fairtrader - Dr. Ananda Sarath Ranaweera

Dr. Ranaweera is a Fairtrade pioneer in Sri Lanka. In 1993 he set up Bio Foods (Pvt) Ltd, a company that processes and exports organic teas, spices, rice and other products and the Small Organic Farmers’ Association (SOFA) in 1997. Biofoods supports farmers in organic practices and guarantees purchase of their products.

Other finalists include: Chiraz Skhiri of the Fairtrade International Producer Support and Relations Unit, and Theonestina Mwasha who is working with artisanal gold miners in Africa