Winfa seeks better prices for bananas

WINFA is sparing no effort to try and secure better prices for Fairtrade farmers for their banana exports and is participating in an international exercise aimed at increasing the minimum price for these bananas in line with increased costs of production.{{more}}

Karomo Browne, Technical Officer in the Fairtrade Unit of the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) represented the organization at the upcoming Price Review for bananas which was conducted by Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO) in Santa Marta, Columbia last weekend.

The review process, although started in February 2009, with the submission of cost of production from different producer groups, will be the most recent Price Review conducted by FLO for bananas since 2005. Since that time there have been significant changes in world food prices for all major food commodities except for bananas.

The next meeting will be conducted in two phases, firstly, a discussion amongst different Fairtrade producer groups, followed by a meeting with FLO standards unit to discuss minimum price and the social premium.

The second stage of this Price Review discussion, which is to take place between the 4th to 5th August 2009 in Columbia, will be attended by Fairtrade producers from South and Central America, Africa and the Caribbean countries.

Seventy-four certified and applicant producers were contacted to make submissions of cost of production from different producer groups for the Price Review. WINFA has already made its submission following proposals from the Fairtrade organizations from Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and is optimistic about being able to secure more realistic prices for farmers.