Dutch supermarket PLUS has expanded its range of Fairtrade certified fruit with Fairtrade grapes. From this week until mid-May, grapes with the Fairtrade quality mark can be found in all PLUS shops. These grapes come from small growers in India, and are only available from PLUS.
Small-scale grape growers
In the Nashik region in India, grapes are grown for export to Europe. The grape growers in this area have experienced yield from their land decreasing due to the consequences of climate change. Twenty-one small-scale grape farmers have united in the first Fairtrade cooperative in the region to face the challenges together. In 2015, the cooperativesold five containers with grapes under Fairtrade conditions. In 2016, that number had already increased to 14. The farmers take great care in growing and selecting the best grapes for export. The Fairtrade premium received by the growers for the grapes they sold was invested in, among other things, training in the fields of safety, health and personal hygiene.