The Hot Zone Online is proud to be the first to announce this exciting, and groundbreaking bit of fiery foods industry news. In an announcement to be released later today, Tina Brooks tells us that Transfair Canada has decided to create a market for Fair Trade chili peppers and that Brooks Pepperfire Foods (makers of the Peppermaster brand of Hot Sauces that we so wildly rave about) will be an integral part of this venture.
Trans Fair Canada is the Canadian branch for the main Fair Trade certification body FLO-CERT. Through the aptly named “Pepperfire Intuitive”, consumers will soon be able to order certified Fair Trade products from Brooks Pepperfire Foods. In the meantime, the company will begin offering a large variety of peppers to commercial and industrial customers as the peppers are brought in from all parts of the world, including the famous Naga Morich from India — which can be ordered now.
A truly momentous event, this is the first time that peppers will be commercially available in this manner. Fair Trade pepper certification will be given to only the farms and farmers that meet FLO-Cert’s high standards. One of the main standards to note is the prohibited use of certain pesticides. Most of the pesticides used in farming today are harmful to the environment AND the human body. With Fair Trade certification, the consumer will be able to ensure that a very long list of these pesticides have not been used, thus insuring top of the line quality, and safety. The Fair Trade logo is a guarantee that stands for fairness and global social responsibility in international trade.
In Canada, you can find the label on select brands of coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, fruit (bananas and mangos), cereals (rice and quinoa), spices, cotton garments, wine, roses, sports balls and soon, chili peppers. Buying Fair Trade Certified products helps make the world a better place by paying farmers and workers in developing countries a fair price and helping develop sustainable economic growth using a rigorous system of checks and balances.
More details will be released in the near future so be sure to watch for more news.
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As a matter of sheer agronomics, how does this affect the Joe-average consumer, hot sauce buyer, or chile pepper aficionado? I guess if I understood more what the current paradigm is and has been, then this will make more of an impression. As it stands, it sounds quite impressive…but I can’t wrap my brain around what the pragmatic effect will be for all of us.
- Joe
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — January 14, 2007- 10:11 pm
Besides giving small time farms a better oppertunity to be included in the vast global market, it will help the availability of quality (less pesticides and other chemicals) peppers. As a consumer (and buyer) of peppers, I would rather buy my peppers from a source that guaranties the peppers to have less pesticides. Plus, people are probably going to start making their sauces out of Fair Trade peppers(I hope) which is something I as a Jon-average consumer am looking forward to…um….consume?
Comment fired by Jonathan Passow — January 15, 2007- 12:33 pm
It’s not just about less pesticides, though. Although, that is part of it. I’m writing an article for you about the whole project so stay tuned.
Of course the article on pesticides comes first.
T
Comment fired by Tina Brooks — January 15, 2007- 7:02 pm