The Fresh Produce Consortium and Ghanaian fresh-cut fruit exporter Blue Skies have helped to influence two high-profile high-street names to alter their stances on airfreighted fresh produce.
Both Pret A Manger and Innocent, which had adopted negative positions in relation to airfreight of fresh produce and sustainability, have made “significant shifts” in their public positions on airfreight, said Michelle Di Leo of pro-aviation coalition Flying Matters. “Many thanks to the FPC and Blue Skies for their assistance in helping us achieve this,” she added.
Following discussions with Flying Matters, Pret A Manger has agreed to change the relevant wording on its website. It currently reads: “We believe airfreighting fruit and veg is completely over the top. It's unnecessary and, with the exception of basil leaves (and in the case of an emergency), we don't do it. At certain times of the year, basil lets us down. We're working hard to find a supplier closer to home.”
Pret A Manger will now change this to: “These are challenging questions with no simple answers. We tackle them, one by one. We listen to the arguments and weigh up the evidence. Fingers crossed, we make the right decisions.
“For instance, whilst we do not airfreight our fruit and veg, we understand that for many farmers, particularly in developing countries, airfreight is an important way to get goods to market and that those goods contribute a great deal towards social and economic development. It’s a sustainability conundrum.
At Pret, we have long supported developing countries through the sale of such products as ethically sourced coffee, fair trade mangoes, bananas, avocados etc, but these are always shipped rather than airfreighted. The environmental impact is lessened and farmers still supported. So whilst we will continue to avoid air freighting unless it’s absolutely necessary, we will always try to balance and consider all sustainability impacts, environmental, social and economic when selecting our products.”
In addition, smoothie manufacturer Innocent has removed the references to airfreight from its website.
