Although still not in possession of an organic fairtrade certification, Tankay is very close to becoming an organic fairtrade producer. After successful efforts harvesting under organic regulations, the firm has discovered a good market and it expects to earn the certification this year.
"We adopted organic fairtrade because it is part of our conviction," said Dennis Fernando Brito. His firm, Tankay, was created purposely to promote the welfare of Ecuadorian growers. Physalis is its main crop, which they grow on 36 of the 110 hectares of the Puichig plantation, located nearby the Cotopaxi volcano, in Ecuador. The firm has already obtained the Global GAP certification for three consecutive years and it meets the requirements for other certifications thanks to the company's management model.
"We take environmental and social issues strongly into account," said Brito. "We provide health and labour safety to our workforce and we have increased our salaries to ensure that workers receive a higher pay than the average in agriculture." Brito explained that the Global GAP certification accounts for 70% of what they need for the organic and fair trade certifications, but that additional 30% requires structural changes which are being progressively implemented.
"We have been testing for two years whether or not it is profitable to produce under organic specifications," said Brito. "The test programme was successful and we now see that it is possible to enter the organic market." The firm produces between 8,000 and 10,000 boxes weekly, enough for one and a half containers, and it ships its products to the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain and the United States. But when the appropriate organic and fair trade certifications are awarded, business could increase.
"We have an excellent ecosystem to produce physalis, because of water conditions and altitude (2,890 metres above sea level)," said Brito, adding that "it is possible to harvest a superior product while imploving everybody's welfare."
For more information:
Dennis Fernando Brito
Tankay
+593 0991423343
