Although it may seem good for us to pay less for our bananas than for locally grown apples, do we want to put small-scale farmers out of business and encourage the growth of large, chemical-intensive plantations, where workers survive on below subsistence wages and inhumane working conditions?
Despite the fact that some producers and workers are protected by Fairtrade (believe it or not but supermarkets sell them at a loss to attract customers into their stores!), the majority of the bananas we buy in the UK are still not produced under Fairtrade conditions. During Fairtrade Fortnight (Feb 24 – Mar 9) you’ll be hearing a lot about Foncho as Crystal Palace joins the nationwide ‘Stick with Foncho’ campaign to combat unfair bananas.
Crystal Palace Transition will also be hosting their own events with Colombian banana producer representative, Alexis Martinez Palacios, former banana plantation worker who now represents the interests of banana producers in Latin America and the Caribbean to Fairtrade International, the global umbrella organization for Fairtrade.
Why are bananas unfair?Shockingly, the UK supermarket sector has almost halved the shelf price of loose bananas in the last 10 years even though the cost of producing bananas has doubled. I was shocked to learn this myself as I had no idea it was sold at a loss. Most supermarkets battle each other every day through a highly-competitive and bitter price war driven by their desire to get more customers into their stores. Bananas are now bought and sold so cheaply in the UK that many of the farmers and workers who grow them are being trapped in an increasing cycle of poverty, ill-health and sometimes death (see Bananas Unpeeled).
Although Fairtrade bananas still guarantee a fair price to the producer, as well as all the other social and environmental benefits guaranteed by Fairtrade, these are sold by supermarkets at a loss (‘lost leaders’), to keep their prices competitive. However, two thirds of bananas sold in the UK are still not Fairtrade. This is why Crystal Palace Transition Town is asking people not only to buy Fairtrade bananas but also to sign a petition persuading the government to end these unfair practices.
The ‘Stick with Foncho’ campaign aims to transform the banana industry so that every banana farmer and worker earns enough to have a decent standard of living, works in conditions that are safe and has rights and benefits. It also means bananas are produced in a way that is environmentally sustainable too.
Who is Foncho?
Albeiro Alfonso “Foncho” Cantillo is a 43-year-old banana farmer from Colombia whose livelihood depends on the small banana farm he inherited from his father. He cares deeply about his farm and his bananas as he knows that without them he would struggle to find another job to provide for his family.
Foncho is coming to the UK this Fairtrade Fortnight with a message. ‘Stick with the farmers who grow your bananas’. You’ll see his face on stickers and posters all over the country, not least here in Crystal Palace, where they’ll be hosting Alexis, their very own banana farmer from Colombia.
Meet Alexis from Colombia – and win a prize for the best banana recipe!
Crystal Palace’s banana producer representative, Alexis Martinez, will be judging your banana dishes and handing out prizes in the library on Saturday 1st March from 3.30pm so get your cook’s hats on and start unzipping!. You’ll find some recipe ideas here or you can make up your own. If you’d like to take part, just drop Crystal Palace Transition a line so they can get an idea of how many people to expect, and bring your dishes along to the library, covered in cling-film, between 2 and 3pm on March 1st 2014.
As well as participating in the library event, Alexis will also be coming to our ‘Hungry Gap’ dinner at Domali restaurant on Sunday 9th March. This is a repeat of last year’s popular event where a three course meal, wine and cocktails were all produced using only locally grown and Fairtrade ingredients. Cost: £25 (including wine, beer or soft drink with meal and tea or coffee with chocolates).
All these events will be used to publicise the ‘Stick with Foncho’ campaign and to gather signatures for the petition to Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business.
Programme of events:
Thursday 27 Feb – Film night with Fairtrade wine, rum and nibbles at the Antenna Cafe Thing (Haynes Lane) at 7.30
Saturday 1 March – the ever-popular bicycle-powered Fairtrade smoothies outside Sainsburys 10am-1pm
Saturday 1 March – Children’s stories 2.30-3.30 followed by Meet Alexis and recipe judging till 4.30pm at the library
Saturday 8 March – Fairtrade stall offering a range of products at the Food Market, Haynes Lane (10am to 3pm)
Sunday 9 March – Hungry Gap dinner at Domali restaurant, with Alexis 7.30pm (booking details to come)
If you’d like to participate in the banana recipe competition please email lynn@crystalpalacetransition.org.uk
For background information on the issues see Bananas Unpeeled – Background Information and click here for general Fairtrade facts and figures.
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