At Rachelle Béry, we believe that what you put in your basket should reflect your values. That’s why this October, we’re celebrating Fairtrade Month with a delicious, feel-good favourite: Equifruit Fairtrade organic bananas. When you buy Fairtrade, you’re not just getting great bananas, you’re making a powerful impact. Read on to discover how Equifruit bananas are shaking up the fruit bowl.
What is Fairtrade?
‘Fairtrade’ is Fairtrade International’s ethical certification. Under Fairtrade, farmers and workers are paid a fair price for their produce, known as the Fairtrade Minimum Price, which factors in the cost of sustainable production and provides a stable income. The Fairtrade Standards also support safer working conditions, environmentally friendly farming practices and a total ban on child and forced labor.
When you see the Fairtrade Mark on a product, like bananas, tea, or coffee, you can be confident that the brand (like Equifruit), and the producers, both meet Fairtrade’s rigorous Standards.
What is Fairtrade Month?
Every October, Fairtrade Month celebrates ethical consumerism all around the world. It’s an opportunity for retailers and brands to educate the public about buying better and choosing brands that prioritize fairness and transparency.
Buying Fairtrade shouldn’t be a once-a-year decision. However, Fairtrade Month is the perfect time to reflect on how we can build a better world through the products we buy, starting with Canada’s most popular fruit: the banana!
Who is Equifruit?
Equifruit is North America’s loudest and proudest Fairtrade banana company. Founded in 2006 in Quebec, Equifruit has been 100% Fairtrade-certified since day one. For over a decade, Equifruit has provided Rachelle Béry with delicious Fairtrade organic bananas. Women-owned, and a certified B Corp, Equifruit is turning the banana displays everywhere into the grocery store’s most exciting corner.
What’s special about Equifruit Fairtrade bananas?
Equifruit bananas don’t just taste good, they’re also doing good for the world. When you pick up a bunch of Equifruit bananas, you can feel good in the knowledge that you’re not just grabbing a nutritious snack, you’re helping to build a better food system.
Grown by Fairtrade-certified farmers in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Mexico, these organic bananas come from producers who meet the highest social, environmental and labor standards.
A big part of what makes Fairtrade bananas special is the Fairtrade Premium. Under the Fairtrade Standards, farmers earn additional funds for their bananas that they can invest in projects to improve their lives and communities, like education, healthcare, training, and climate resilience. For Equifruit bananas, farmers earn $1 US in Fairtrade Premium for every 40lb case of bananas sold.
Through Equifruit banana sales, Rachelle Béry has helped Sobeys contribute over $1.14 million US in Fairtrade Premium to banana farmers, making a real positive difference for these communities. Learn more about Equifruit’s sustainability efforts on their website.