The Fair Trade Fresh Produce program began in 2004 with the launch of Fair Trade bananas, pineapples, grapes and mangos. Since the onset of the program, Fair Trade has helped produce farmers and family farmers participate in long-term, stable relationships that support a dependable living for farmers and their families, which in turn allows them to provide a reliable, Fair Trade product for the industry. A wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including fruit juices, fruit purees, and dried fruit and vegetables, are eligible for Fair Trade certification. The list includes, but is not limited to, bananas, mangos, oranges, pineapples, avocados, beans, bell peppers, peas and sweet potatoes. These products can be sourced from 152 farming organizations across Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Colombia, South Africa, Haiti, Mexico and Chile. As of 2010 there are also 199 new applicants. Since launching the Fair Trade Certified banana program in 2004, over 100 million pounds of bananas have been imported and sold in the United States. The result is over $2.8 million dollars in community development funding for farmers and workers to reinvest in their communities and lives.
Environmental Stewardship: The general assembly voted to spend 30% of their Fair Trade premium on a number of different social programs. They set aside money for scholarships for students, medicine for the local clinic, money to donate to a local institution to help homeless families, money to donate to a local sports team to purchase uniforms and equipment, and they also supported the reconstruction of a local historical monument.
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