Major banana producer and exporter associations from Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, and the Dominican Republic have issued a joint statement expressing their concern about the sourcing policies of European supermarkets, which they claim overlook industry challenges.
They argue that the purchase prices set by retail chains don't recognize producers' sustainability efforts and are driven by commercial strategies using bananas as a loss leader to attract consumers, to the detriment of growers' profitability.
They also criticize international NGO and cooperation projects that, claiming to verify living wages, divert attention from the core issue: Ensuring fair prices that sustain the activity and improve the living conditions of the producing communities.
The associations warn that these communities already face serious difficulties, aggravated by regional insecurity and rising drug trafficking to the EU, fueled by the high demand for narcotics.
In this context, the associations urgently call on supermarkets to turn their sustainability commitments into tangible and effective actions, going beyond isolated projects. They suggest strengthening the initiatives that the industry already supports through foundations and social programs to directly improve the quality of life for producer families and foster the development of rural areas.
"Retailers' commitment should be reflected in prices that recognize the true value of bananas, fostering true sustainability based on fair trade and shared responsibility throughout the supply chain," the representatives stressed.
For more information: www.clusterbananerodelecuador.org