Univeg has imported the first-ever Chilean Fairtrade grapes into the UK.
The Spalding-based importer took delivery of its first consignment from the Mifruta producer group last week. Two containers held pre-packed, mixed 400g punnets of Fairtrade Flame and Sugraone.
Mifruta encompasses 28 individual growers and has been established as a Fairtrade supplier of raisins for several years, but following a visit by Univeg’s David Maris in 2009, it has been able to add table grapes to its portfolio.
Maris said: “We wanted to establish Fairtrade grape supply from Chile so we worked with the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK to establish the link. I visited farms in Chile in late 2009 with the Fairtrade liaison officer in Chile, Ingrid Allende. We have been working with small producer groups since we started importing Fairtrade produce in 2004. It is a steep learning curve and it can take organisations two years to smooth out all the problems, but Mifruta has done really well already.”
Eight of the Mifruta growers are involved in supplying this programme with Univeg and fruit is packed on two different farms within the group. There are already clear plans for use of the Fairtrade premium in providing education and scholarship funds for the producers’ children or grandchildren, as well as meeting medical expenses. As a group, the big project for Mifruta is to buy land to build a warehouse, stockpile centre and processing plant for Mifruta Fairtrade raisins.
Sourcing Chilean Fairtrade grapes is a feather in Univeg’s cap and helps close up a gap in availability. Maris said: “We already have Fairtrade grapes from South Africa and Egypt and this will give us a seasonal extension to that. This season, we have programmed seven [Chilean Fairtrade grape] containers for our supermarket retailer customers. Getting this first season completed successfully will allow us to look at opportunities for a larger programme next season and extending the availability of the Chilean grape.”
Univeg is also looking at expanding its portfolio from Chile to include Fairtrade avocados. Maris said: “Mifruta is a well organised group and as it was already Fairtrade certified for raisins, this was a good opportunity for us. They have been in constant communication with us, which is always a good sign. As a small producer group, their grapes would have been destined for domestic sales, or export as conventional product via a large export company, if not as Fairtrade raisins, so being able to export in their own right has really empowered them.”
