Since fair trade bananas were introduced in the Netherlands 20 years ago, the Dutch have eaten one billion of the fruits, the Max Havelaar foundation said on Thursday 27 October. The sale of fair trade bananas in the Netherlands has generated €12.7m in extra income for cooperative banana plantations, the foundation said.
This money has been spend on irrigation systems, schooling, housing and healthcare. The Max Havelaar foundation was set up in 1988 to focus on Mexican coffee farmers and now offers bananas, chocolate, tea and dozens of other products. Hundreds of supermarkets, cafés and other businesses are taking part in Fair Trade Week which runs from October 27
