News Clips...

Organic Ugandan Pineapples and Bananas

After a long process, our partner Fruits of the Nile in Uganda has finally achieved Organic Certification. It has been a huge achievement involving the registration and training of more than 700 very dispersed farmers. Until we get Fairtrade certification for these three products we have decided not to change our existing retail packaging to show that the fruits are Organic. This way we save costs on plate changes and film wastage. Fruits of the Nile Growers Association's first full Fairtrade inspection is expected by middle of 2010, if not sooner.

Comic Relief in Burkina Faso

We are just starting a 3 year project at the Mango Drying Cooperatives we work with in Burkina Faso. The project is funded by Comic Relief to develop Biogas production out of Mango waste generated by the drying process. The biogas will be made from combining mango peel, stones and rejects with human and animal waste. The biogas will then be used as fuel to heat the ovens which dry the sliced mango. We are working with a team of UK biogas experts on this project.

Kernels win Gold Prize

We are very pleased that Tropical Wholefoods Fairtrade Apricot Kernels were the winner of the Green Familia Gold Leaf TGF Rated Awards for Food and Drink for 2009. This is a reader voted award. Results were announced on December 31st so a great end to 2009 for the kernels. The tamari and chilli kernels are proving extremely popular – and now are available in sharing/catering tubs 500g from our website shop.

Trade Shows 2010

We will be exhibiting along with our Ugandan partner Fruits of the Nile in the Uganda section of the African Pavilion at Biofach, Nurnberg, Germany this year. Feb 18th to Feb 21st. The African Pavilion is in Hall 4.

We are on stand 6110 at Organic and Natural Products April 11th and 12th.

British Retail Consortium (BRC)

For the 4th year running, we have been certified to Global Standard at Grade A when our Fullwell Mill bakery and packing factory was inspected by BRC. This is a testament to the fantastic work our quality and production team continue to do. Well done all!

Dried Berries from Uganda

We have got funding from the Department for International Development to develop berry growing and drying in Uganda with our partner Fruits of the Nile. The berries are Physalis (Cape Gooseberry), Strawberries and Blueberries. We are working with the Henry Doubleday Foundation on this 2 year programme. We will show the first dried berries at Biofach this year at Fruits of the Nile's stand in the African Pavillion

Landslide in Pakistan

At the beginning of January, we were very sad to hear from our partner in Pakistan, Mountain Fruits, that many of their farmers had experienced devastating landslides in Atta-Abad in the Hunza region. More than 1600 people have been evacuated already and are sheltering in schools, with neighbours or in tents in very cold conditions. More than 100 houses have collapsed or are in damaged conditions, and more than 10,000 people are under serious threat of being evacuated due to the risk of the river Hunza rising because of all the debris that has fallen into it from the landslides. We have been raising money from friends and colleagues to send out to Mountain Fruits for reconstruction. We thank those who have donated for their generosity. Anyone else who wishes to donate can send their donation to Shared Interest who have kindly agreed to send out money to Pakistan free of charge. Please send as below:

DIRECT BANK TRANSFERS:
should go to:
Account Name: Shared Interest Foundation
Account Number: 70749045
Sort Code: 089006
Please quote: Livelihood Security Pakistan

Please also send andrea.wilkinson@shared-interest.com a short email saying that you are making a donation for Pakistan Landslide Relief.

CHEQUES:
If you wish to send a cheque please make it out to the: Shared Interest Foundation. Please post it to Andrea Wilkinson, Shared Interest Foundation, No 2 Cathedral Square, The Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1EH Please include a note quoting:
Livelihood Security Pakistan

GIFT AID:
If you are a UK tax payer, Shared Interest are able to reclaim tax on your donation at a rate of 28% and so increase your donation to Pakistan by 28%, so please contact Louise 0191 233 9112 or louise.mclaren@shared-interest.com and she can send you the appropriate form to fill in and include with your donation to enable the tax reclaim to go ahead.

Afghan Raisins

We are importing raisins this Spring again from the Shomali Plains just north of Kabul. Adam Brett and Richard Friend have been working with US Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Mercy Corps since 2006 on developing a good raisin supply out of Afghanistan into the UK. Part of the brief is to improve the farmer drying of raisins (through introduction of a mat based system). The washing and further grading and de-stalking of the raisins is another stage. Getting Fairtrade Certification for the grape farmers is another goal. It's been a tricky one to manage because the insecurity in the region rules out any FLO inspectors going to Afghanistan. However, Adam has been working closely with the Fairtrade Foundation and Mercy Corps to try to develop a way in which FLO certification can be available to farmers groups in fragile and precarious states like Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Considerable progress has been made.

The raisins are delicious and sweet, and will be available as bulk and in Tropical Wholefoods retail packs of 200g x 6.

Baking for Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 22nd February to 8th March 2010. The themed event will focus on “the big swap”. The idea is to get people to swap to Fairtrade certified products from the conventional products they currently purchase, with a special emphasis on tea. Since everyone likes a slice of cake and a biscuit with their Fairtrade cup of tea, it's been a chance for Kate at Tropical Wholefoods to get her baking hat on again and tell everyone about the gorgeous recipes we have on our website and in our little brochure. Her current favourites are the Tea Loaf which uses Tropical Wholefoods Chewy Banana Chips and Bogoya Banana (along with Fairtrade Tea and raisins) and Amoretti Biscuits which uses Fairtrade natural Apricot Kernels. Check out some of the other Apricot Kernel recipes too – like the Savoury Biscuits, and the Orange and Apricot Kernel Cake on our website: http://www.fmfoods.co.uk/resources/recipes.htm

Sally Reith at Shared Interest is baking a Fairtrade recipe every day of Fortnight and is kicking off with our Banana and Walnut Tea Loaf. (Thank you Sally!) We will also be baking for the Fairtrade Tea Dances in Newcastle and London on 27th February.

If anyone would like recipes and ingredients to use during Fairtrade Fortnight, please get in touch with rachel@fullwellmill.co.uk and she can send you a pack.

Kate will also be putting up recipes on our blog: http://tropicalwholefoods.blogspot.com/

New products for 2010—Nut oils and shells

New imports for us this year are Fairtrade Apricot and Walnut Kernel Shells from our partner Mountain Fruits in Pakistan. These are being sold to cosmetic companies as exfoliate ingredients. They represent a lovely added product for Mountain Fruits. As Sher Ghazi, director of Mountain Fruits said to Kate Sebag: “Local markets are important but the best price for our produce lies in countries far from here. Getting a Fairtrade deal for farmers in these remote valleys is a lifeline.” On the sale of nut and kernel shells, he added “I could say that it was unbelievable for the lady farmers that they could make some money from nuts shells”.

We are finding a 4th apricot product by also importing and selling FT apricot kernel oil into the cosmetic industry. It's started in a small way already but we are seeking to build up FT supply and processing of Nut Oils in Pakistan for both apricot kernel oil, walnut oil and almond oil too.

4 Tropical Snack Bars in New Packaging

Tropical Wholefoods are rebranding 4 of our 6 snack bars. Mango & Brazil nut, Apricot & Raisin, Pineapple & Cashew nut, and 5-Fruit salad, are set to be launched in March and are all Fairtrade (FLO) certiifed and Organic.

The new improved recipes will be vegan, using rice syrup to replace honey. We have also introduced extra crunch into the bars with the inclusion of some organic barley flakes from Pertwood Farms.

5 -Fruit salad replaces the previous Tropical Fruit Bar and is now made with mango, pineapple, banana, raisins and dates, and moistened with a little apple juice. Apricot & Raisin replaces Apricot & Kernel as a product title, although the bars still contain Apricot Kernels as an ingredient.

All 4 bars are under the attractive new Tropical Wholefoods branding which came out in 2009. The fruit bowl images on the bars underline the exceptionally high fruit content of all 4 bars. The cereal bars have a minimum of 32% dried fruit in them, and the 5-Fruit Salad is made with 95% dried fruit, and 5% apple juice.

Two other bars in the six bar range: - Banana & Honey bars, and Date & Walnut bars will for the time being remain in existing packaging until we run down existing packaging stock.

Pakistan Landslide Appeal

Dear Friends and Partners,

You may have heard that on 4th January there were devastating landslides in Atta Abad and Sarat villages in the Hunza Nagar District of Northern Pakistan. 34 houses were destroyed and dozens of others damaged in the two villages. The village of Atta Abad has been completely wiped out with most of the rubble being dragged into the Hunza river creating more potential risk of flooding for other villages as the rubble is making the height of the river rise dangerously. At least 15 people were killed and around 1600 individuals have been displaced so far, 700 of which are accommodated in school camps. The landslide also destroyed 3km of the Karakorum Highway, the main road between Pakistan and China.

Our partners in Pakistan, Mountain Fruits, who buy Fairtrade fruits and nuts from Attaa-bad Village Organisation and from other villages in the region, wish to raise emergency financial support for the villagers affected by the landslide. They hope to provide supplementary food, shelter and bedding as soon as possible to displaced people in this remote region. They have therefore appealed to Tropical Wholefoods and Fullwell Mill to communicate with our partners and friends in the UK to raise any financial support we are able to.

Our ethical financier, Shared Interest have very kindly offered to help with the administration and despatch of funds. So if you are able to make a donation, please follow these instructions:

DIRECT BANK TRANSFERS:
should go to:
Account Name: Shared Interest Foundation
Account Number: 70749045
Sort Code: 089006
Please quote: Livelihood Security Pakistan

Please also send andrea.wilkinson@shared-interest.com a short email saying that you are making a donation for Pakistan Landslide Relief.

CHEQUES:
If you wish to send a cheque please make it out to the: Shared Interest Foundation. Please post it to Andrea Wilkinson, Shared Interest Foundation, No 2 Cathedral Square, The Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1EH Please include a note quoting:
Livelihood Security Pakistan

We have more detailed reports on the events which have been sent to us by Mountain Fruits. Please feel free to contact me directly on Rachel@fullwellmill.co.uk where I can send the reports in response.

Thanking you in advance for any assistance you are able to offer to the villagers in the region. Your solidarity will be hugely appreciated.

Tropical Wholefoods