German retailer Rewe has donated €600,000 to development projects in banana cultivation areas, and in the process announced financing for a number of social and ecological projects in Costa Rica and Panama.
Rewe has founded the 'Mittelamerika Fonds' (Central America Funds) in order to take responsibility for production conditions in banana growing areas. With its latest donation, the subsidies have totaled more than €4.3 million.
A Number Of Projects
Moreover, 43 projects are earmarked for future financing in Costa Rica and Panama under the Mittelamerika Fonds. Another 17 ventures are being implemented and 33 have been approved.
These ventures focus on education and youth work as well as medical care, drinking water infrastructure and biodiversity. Local organisations are being called upon to submit project ideas, Rewe said.
The 'Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit/ International Service (GIZ-IS) GmbH' supervises and controls the approved and implemented measures.
World Banana Forum
Additionally, the Rewe Group is part of the 'World Banana Forum' and represents the trade in the Steering Committee.
Pro Planet certification, along with the Rainforest Alliance seal are obligatory for the bananas offered under the retailer's private label 'Rewe Beste Wahl' (Rewe best choice).
Bananas under the labels Rewe Beste Wahl and Rewe Bio carry a sticker with a QR code which gives consumers more information about social and environmental standards of the product.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Jana Zimmermann. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
