As Fairtrade Fortnight (Feb. 23–March 8) gets into full swing, the Irish arm of the organization has issued a report into Irish retailers' 'poor commitment to Fairtrade bananas', urging an increase in support for the fairtrade movement by switching to selling 100% fairtrade bananas.

Windward Islands farmer Stephen Best is touring Ireland speaking about his first-hand experience of the positive impact of fairtrade.

Earlier this week, Fairtrade Ireland challenged several of the republic's major supermarkets to divulge fairtrade banana volumes sold in store whilst issuing a report entitled 'Fairtrade Bananas – Time for a Change'.

Supermarkets including Tesco Ireland, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Dunnes Stores, Spar and Musgrave, were asked to reveal the current percentage of fairtrade bananas stocked and now Fairtrade Ireland has announced the response from some.

Marks & Spencer came out as the strongest supporter stocking 50% fairtrade bananas whilst discounters Lidl and Aldi come second and third respectively with figures of 20% and 15%. Tesco Ireland comes in fourth place with 14%.

Fairtrade Ireland reiterates its challenge to Dunnes Stores and Musgrave, a wholesaler which owns the SuperValu chain. Sainsbury's, Co-operative Food and Waitrose already stock 100% Fairtrade bananas.

"We were pleased to receive an answer from Marks & Spencer, Lidl, Aldi and Tesco Ireland, who collectively account for about 41% of Irish grocery market share," Fairtrade Ireland executive director Peter Gaynor says in a release.

"We are still waiting for an answer from SuperValu and Dunnes Stores who, despite dominating the Irish grocery market with virtually a combined 50% market share, only account for (with the small symbol groups added too), a mere 13% of Fairtrade bananas sold in Ireland."

The report says consumption of fairtrade bananas in Ireland is just 8%, compared to 35% in the U.K. and 60% in Switzerland.

Fairtrade Ireland directly contributes these statistics to the fact retailers are failing to stock sufficient supplies.

According to a release, almost 50% of Irish consumers eat bananas daily amounting to an annual average consumption of 11kg of bananas per person, slightly above the European average consumption.

International coordinator of Banana Link and co-author of the report, Alistair Smith, says 90% of Irish shoppers purchase fresh fruit in mainstream supermarkets.

"It is clear to us that Irish retailers remain weakly committed to Fairtrade when compared to other European countries, they could do a huge amount more to address the negative impacts of the conventional banana trade," he says in a release.

"If the top Irish retailers committed to stocking 100% Fairtrade bananas, similar to European counterparts, this would have a dramatic and significant impact on the livelihoods of workers, families and communities in developing countries."

The report adds that bananas are the third most popular fruit consumed in Ireland behind apples and citrus and represent more than 16% of the retail value of fruits sold ever year.

Gaynor says many more Irish coffee shops are serving 100% fairtrade coffee beans in recent years and it’s about time retailers followed suit.

"It is now time for the retailers to step up to the mark," he says.

"It has been well established that a small number of retailers wield huge power in the Irish market, but the opportunity exists for them to use that power to exert a positive influence and make a real difference.

"Converting to 100% Fairtrade bananas, similar to Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and the Coop in the UK, would have a tangible impact on many small farmers and workers in banana producing countries."

Gaynor says retailers should accept the challenge of making a 100% commitment.

"We encourage all of the Irish retailers to consider the opportunity presented to them now to carve out a position for themselves as leaders and retail activists, by rising to the challenge present to them by U.K. and other European counterparts who have already converted to stocking 100% Fairtrade bananas, giving their customers a reason to be proud of shopping with them," he adds.

Real-life stories from Windward Islands farmer

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight in Ireland, a banana farmer from the Windward Islands is touring the country speaking about his first-hand experience of the positive impact of fairtrade.

Stephen Best, who is also chairperson of the Windward Islands Farmers’ Association (WIFA), is encouraging Irish consumers to make an ethical choice.

"We are asking Irish people that every time they pick up a banana from a supermarket shelf, they visualize a face, and this is the face of a small farmer, a person who takes pride in his or her work, to generate the necessary income to sustain their livelihood, and that of their families and workers," he said.

"When you buy a Fairtrade banana, you are giving us this opportunity. Since converting to Fairtrade, we have experienced increased earning, better worker representation, and significant health benefits.

"I am appealing directly to Irish supermarkets to examine where they source their bananas. If they took just five minutes to do this they would realize that Fairtrade bananas are the only type of bananas they should consider selling."

Meanwhile, following Fairtrade Ireland’s call on retailers, The Happy Pear Organic Store and Restaurant and The Fresh Market (which has five stores in Ireland) have both announced a commitment to stock 100% fairtrade pears.

www.freshfruitportal.com