As a grower and shipper of Fair Trade Certified™ melons in Central America, Sol Group is looking to drive growth in the melon category across retail and raise awareness on the positive impact of fair trade on the local growing communities. For every purchase of Fair Trade Certified™ melons, a premium is invested to fund community development in Sol’s growing regions in Honduras and Guatemala.
Sol Group says more and more consumers are interested in purchasing products that help benefit workers in the regions where they are sourced. According to a recent statistic from the Natural Marketing Institute, more than 1 in 3 consumers are more likely to buy a product with Fair Trade certification. Additionally with 75 percent of millennials stating fair trade as an important factor in their purchase decisions, retailers have further motivation to include fair trade offerings in their stores.
According to the company, through the investment of the Fair Trade premium, workers benefit from programs that enhance the well-being of their community. Projects range from providing families with access to clean water and affordable healthcare to programs that benefit children with school supplies and essential necessities. Since 2014, these initiatives have benefited over 4,500 families in the growing regions in Honduras and Guatemala.
Initiatives currently in the works aim at providing housing solutions, improving access to food and supporting overall health through low-cost treatment and preventive care.
“Our position as the largest grower and importer of Fair Trade Certified™ melons in the US has strengthened our impact across our growing regions in Central America,” says Enda Walsh, president of Fyffes Inc. “While working alongside our dedicated teams in Honduras and Guatemala, sustaining our partnerships with our workers and investing in the future of the growing communities remains true to our company’s core values.”
For more information:
Carolina Garcia
Fyffes North America Inc.
Tel: +1 (305) 529-1289
cgarcia@fyffes-na.com
www.fyffes.com