The Co-operative has announced that it will switch all of its winter blueberries to Fairtrade from 25 November.
The move to Fairtrade is part of the chain's ethical plan which aims to achieve 90 per cent Fairtrade-listed fresh produce by the end of 2013, and the blueberry move is expected to put figures at 80 per cent by the end of 2012.
As part of the plan, The Co-operative has supported its Fairtrade blueberry supplier, Chilean co-operative Apicoop, with an investment in agricultural machinery and accommodation for workers to help manage an increase in production.
"Having launched the world's first fresh Fairtrade blueberries from Blue Mountain in South Africa, I think it is great that all of our winter blueberries will now be Fairtrade," says Brad Hill, Fairtrade stratergy manager at The Co-operative food.
"Fairtrade winter blueberries will generate a five-fold increase in Fairtrade premiums to Blue Mountain Berries this season."
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