Fairtrade Awards recognize organizations and individuals

This year Fairtrade International opened nominations for the first-ever Fairtrade Awards to recognize the achievements of farmers and workers, traders and companies, campaigners and staff. Over 100 groups and individuals applied or were nominated for the awards. The eight winners (picture), selected by an independent panel, include small producers, workers’ committees, traders, and individuals:

Small Producer Organization – Africa: Kibinge Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society, Ltd. that has set up a savings and credit scheme as well a farm supply shop giving members access farm inputs closer to their communities. Workers’ Premium Committee – Africa: Harvest, Ltd. Workers launched an ambitious 5-year strategic plan focused on gender and environmental protection just one year after becoming Fairtrade certified. Small Producer Organization - Asia: Marginalised Organic Producers Association (MOPA) in Sri Lanka. Members of MOPA dedicate 75 % of their Fairtrade Premium to fund projects proposed by the farmers themselves.

Workers’ Premium Committee Asia: Stassen Bio Tea Project in Sri Lanka. The workers in the project have elected to invest in essential transport services that are key to improving the lives of people in the communities. Small Producer Organization – Latin America & the Caribbean: Cooperativa Caficultores de Antioquia in Colombia. The coffee farmers in this cooperative have created a detailed plan for how they will invest their Fairtrade Premium in social projects, and increase workers’ welfare, and productivity. Workers’ Premium Committee – Latin America & the Caribbean: Coporacion Rosalba Zapata Cardona in Colombia. The 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. Fairest Trader: All Good Organics, trading as Karma Cola in New Zealand. All Good Organics is a 100% Fairtrade company producing a range of three Fairtrade soft drinks, including Karma Cola – the first Fairtrade organic cola, Gingerella and Lemmy Lemonade

Fairest Fairtrader: Dr. Ananda Sarath Ranaweera of Sri Lanka. In 1993 he set up Bio Foods (Pvt) Ltd, a company that processes and exports organic teas, spices, rice and other products. Upon seeing the difficulties that producers in Sri Lanka were facing, he formed the Small Organic Farmers’ Association (SOFA) in 1997. Bio Foods supports the small farmers of SOFA with training in organic farming practices and guarantees purchase of their products. The certification of Bio Foods as a Fairtrade exporter in 1997 and SOFA as a Fairtrade small producer organization in 1998 revolutionized the local agricultural system and social development of farmers, their families and the community. Details are available here.