Working Towards A Fair & Sustainable Banana & Pineapple Trade
  • Newsletters
  • Resources
  • Video
  • Contact Us
Banana Link
  • What We Do
    Our ObjectivesOur AchievementsEUROBANWorld Banana ForumRethinking Value ChainsInternational Alliance for Sustainable Family FarmingMeet The TeamWork for us
  • Why We Exist
    All About BananasThe Problem With BananasGood Practices In The Banana IndustryAll About PineapplesSustainability Standards & Certifications
  • Where We Work
    CameroonColombiaCosta RicaDominican RepublicEcuadorGhanaGuatemalaHondurasPeruThe PhilippinesWindward Islands
  • Our Projects
    BananEx (TR4)Banana Occupational Health and Safety Initiative (BOHESI)Education & Empowerment In West AfricaGender Equity Across Supply ChainsImproving & Increasing Women’s EmploymentMake Fruit Fair
  • Trade Unions
    Union-To-Union ProgrammeGMB International Solidarity FundCOLSIBACameroonColombiaCosta RicaDominican RepublicEcuadorGhanaGuatemalaHondurasPeru
  • Gender Equity
    Women In The Banana TradeWorld Banana Forum & Gender EquityPractical Progress to Gender EquityGender Equity Across Supply ChainsImproving & Increasing Women’s Employment
  • News & Blog
  • Donate

Organic and Fairtrade banana consumption amounts to 10% in Europe and North America

Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 in: News

According to a report by the International Trade Center (ITC), the demand for bananas that comply with Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) has been increasing, especially in traditional markets, such as Europe and North America. In fact, according to the data provided, the consumption of organic and fair trade bananas has grown considerably over the last two decades, capturing around 10% of the market in these two regions.

The United Kingdom leads the European consumption of Fairtrade bananas, as a third of the bananas sold in the country are certified as such. Sales of organic and fair trade bananas have also increased in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the United States, VSS-compliant bananas account for nearly 10% of the market share, and in 2017 retail sales volumes increased by 17.5% over 2016.

In the first quarter of 2020, the sales volume of VSS-compliant bananas in this market increased by 19.5%.

Major global players

To meet the growing demand for VSS-compliant bananas in Europe and North America, major global banana companies, such as Chiquita, Fresh del Monte, and Fyffe, have defined sustainable sourcing commitments.

Other equally important companies, such as Dole Food Companies and Bonita Banana, have yet to define their sustainable sourcing commitments.

Together, these five companies are responsible for nearly half of the total volume of bananas traded in the world, making them critical players in moving the sector towards sustainability.

Industry challenges

Since retail prices are the main driver of consumer choice, major banana suppliers, and retailers serving the European and North American markets are competing with their prices to increase their market share.

In addition to this price competition, the sector must address other critical issues, such as the effect of climate change on yields, the excessive use of pesticides, and the impact of Fusarium on banana plantations.

Industry stakeholders must carry out coordinated responses so that VSS-compliant bananas are economically viable and profitable for farmers and workers, as well as resistant to diseases and the effects of climate change.

According to the ITC, this would support the sustainable production of VSS-compliant bananas. Initiatives such as the World Banana Forum, which brings together different public and private actors in the sector, could contribute considerably to addressing these sustainability problems.


Source: https://www.freshplaza.com/
Photo: Banana Link/James Robinson Photography 

https://vimeo.com/238548150?loop=0

Recent Posts

  • Blog: 20 years ago, Ecuador achieved their first unions in the banana sector. They were met with violent suppression
  • Blog: Hace 20 años que en Ecuador se formaron los primeros sindicatos del sector bananero. Sus protestas fueron silenciadas con violencia
  • Defensora colombiana de los derechos de las mujeres Adela Torres, elegida coordinadora de COLSIBA
  • Ukraine conflict threatens thousands of banana jobs in Ecuador
  • El Proyecto de Formación en Liderazgo y Empoderamiento de las Mujeres en la República Dominicana
  • Blog: Gender Equity in Supply Chains – Education
  • Colombian women’s rights advocate Adela Torres elected as Coordinator of COLSIBA
  • Blog: Gender equity across supply chains – Representation
  • International Union of Foodworkers signs ground-breaking agreement with Tesco
  • Peruvian Congress ratifies ILO Convention 190

Categories

  • Banana Trade Blog
  • News

More News
From Banana Link

16th May 2022 Blog: 20 years ago, Ecuador achieved their first unions in the banana sector. They were met with violent suppression

16th May 2022 Blog: Hace 20 años que en Ecuador se formaron los primeros sindicatos del sector bananero. Sus protestas fueron silenciadas con violencia

29th March 2022 Defensora colombiana de los derechos de las mujeres Adela Torres, elegida coordinadora de COLSIBA

Get Involved

Newsletter
Donate
Contact Us
Banana Link  

49 Colegate
Norwich
NR3 1DD
United Kingdom

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • All About Bananas
  • All About Pineapples
  • Trade Unions
  • Gender Equity
  • News & Blog
  • Our Partners
  • Our Projects
  • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settings Read More
ACCEPTREJECT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT