Commodity chain : DRIED FRUITS
- Country :
- Turkey
- Production area :
- AkçaKoça (Hazelnut), Malatya (Dried apricots), Nazilli (Dried figs), Izmir (Raisins)
- Start date of the Organic Fair Trade program :
- 2008
- Number of recipients :
- 750 producers
- Crop :
- Dried apricots, dried figs, sultanas, Thomson raisins, hazelnuts
- Surface area :
- 7500 acres
Background history of the project
The partnership with producers started in the 90's with the training of growers who felt an attraction towards organic agriculture. Training, technical follow-up, supply of organic inputs, distribution and promotion of the organic production has allowed to install a climate of trust and the ORGANIC FAIR TRADE label was awarded in 2008.
Local Partners
We locally find support from ISIK for the collection of raw material from producers and for their initial processing (cleaning, calibration, packaging, ...)
Context
Even though Turkey is very close to Europe as far as economic development is concerned, inhabitants of some villages still live in precarious conditions. Small producers still have to rely on very modest incomes, entirely dependant of a bad harvest due, for instance, to poor climatic conditions.
Stakes
To give visibility to producers in the medium term and to allow them to make their farm durable in spite of harsh market conditions as far as conventional prices are concerned, and despite the growing frequency of dry spells with unfortunate consequences for the crops (figs).
Program Description
The program is based on the following principles:
1. 5 year contracts concerning the whole productions, giving producers the guarantee of visibility and development in the medium term.
2. Commitment on purchase prices towards producers: guarantee to always buy at a price 10% above market price. We also commit ourselves to a bottom price, should market prices fall dramatically.
3. Technological and financial support through the financing of four Turkish agronomists to train producers to the techniques of organic agriculture, to follow up on the harvesting, to supply advice in case of epidemics, to carry the costs of pesticides analysis, the organic certification costs and the costs of Organic Fair Trade certification.
4. Pay back of 1% of our turnover towards the financing of local development projects in the areas our producers live in.
Companies being engaged in this commodity chain :
AGROSOURCING, HUILERIE EMILE NOEL, EURONAT, KAOKA, VITAFRAIS, LABORATOIRES E.V. ROIG
