Univeg Katope has announced the first ever commercial harvesting of Fairtrade grapes from India, with the fruit currently being shipped to the UK with an arrival date of mid-April.
'We've been working towards this day for five years,' said Univeg KatopeFairtrade technical manager David Maris. 'It is one of the longest Fairtrade development projects we have undertaken.'
In 2008, Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, visited the Maharastra region with Univeg to back the project, and despite delays resulting from India's strict legal requirement, time has been used to good effect, Univeg noted. Growers have improved grape production and gained GlobalGAP certification, while being guided and supported by Eurofruits, Univeg's partner on the development.
According to the group, the development means that Univeg can now offer a 10-month continuous supply of Fairtrade seedless grapes, comprising green, red and black seedless varieties, with the long-term aim of offering 52-week full supply by 2013.
