The Co-operative is selling the first bean sprouts to have been grown from Fairtrade certified mung beans.
For the first time, a group of growers in Inner Mongolia have been given Fairtrade certification, which means they will receive a fair price for their mung beans, as well as a Fairtrade premium. The Jurihe/Zhaluteqi farmer association is located near TongLiao City in Inner Mongolia.
The Fairtrade premium will allow the village to improve education facilities and the condition of local schools, as well as providing materials and equipment. It will also support local families by funding items for their houses such as heaters and warm clothes for winter.
Bean sprouts - eaten widely in Chinese cuisine such as stir-fries - are grown from mung beans, which are widely cultivated in China.
After the mung bean seeds are harvested by the growers, they are hand-sorted and transported by sea to the UK, where they are grown into beansprouts and packed for The Co-operative.
The bean sprouts, which have a limited shelf life, are grown in the UK to ensure optimum freshness.
Leah Willcock, produce buyer at The Co-operative, said: “We are delighted to be first-to-market with beansprouts grown using Fairtrade certified mung beans. With this move, we are supporting the Jurihe/Zhaluteqi farmer association, whilst also improving our customer offer. The new bean sprouts will replace the standard offer but remain at the same price, so our customers can buy this ethical product with no additional cost to themselves.”
Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “The launch of bean sprouts grown from Fairtrade mung beans in The Co-operative is another step towards enabling consumers to make Fairtrade part of their everyday lives. It is especially exciting to be opening the door to producers from Inner Mongolia to join the Fairtrade family. Congratulations to The Co-operative who, with enthusiastic support from their members and customers, have always been at the forefront of Fairtrade.”
The bean sprouts are selling at 50p for 300g will be available in selected Co-operative and Somerfield stores from next week.
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