Waitrose’s ethical trading initiative is launching in Costa Rica, expanding its reach outside of Africa for the first time.
Long-term pineapple supplier Chestnut Hill Farms has joined the Waitrose Foundation, which invests a share of the sales from all fruit sold in local growers’ communities.
The Waitrose Foundation logo also will be displayed on the retailer’s Costa Rican wholehead pineapple.
Waitrose chooses to support specific projects in collaboration with workers and their communities. Education appears to be a high priority for Costa Rica.
The Waitrose Foundation currently invests in farm workers’ community projects in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, and plans to develop the scheme across 12 countries by 2020.
More than £10m has gone to support local initiatives since the supermarket established the foundation in 2005.
“It’s exciting that more people will benefit from investment in their communities from the Waitrose Foundation. Customers will know when they buy our Costa Rican wholehead pineapples that the workers who grow them are benefiting directly,” said head of sustainability and responsible sourcing Tor Harris.
“From building schools for the children of farmers in Ghana to healthcare clinics for workers in South Africa, the Waitrose Foundation is excited to be expanding these benefits to 12 further countries by 2020.
“This demonstrates our commitment to treating people in our supply chains fairly and with respect.”
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