Dole Food Company, Inc., which claims to be the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, announced last week that it has introduced bananas grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms in Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala.
Rainforest Alliance Certified farms have met the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a coalition of leading conservation groups that links responsible farmers with conscientious consumers. Rainforest Alliance certification promotes sustainable farm management and incorporates a range of environmental, social and economic standards, including water and soil conservation, wildlife protection, decent wages, housing and healthcare for farm workers, and access to education for farm children.
Unfortunately the Rainforest Alliance certified bananas are so far available only in the US and the UK, though if enough people ask their grocer perhaps they will also be introduced to Canada.
More details at http://www.dolecsr.com/PressSection/PressReleases/April272011/tabid/5963/Default.aspx
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