Behind the Blue Sticker.

G.A.P. stands for Good Agricultural Practice – and GLOBAL G.A.P. is the worldwide standard that assures it. They are a global organization with a crucial objective: safe, sustainable agriculture worldwide. Global G.A.P members set voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe, creating private-sector incentives for agricultural producers worldwide to adopt safe and sustainability practices in agriculture.

Globally connecting farmers and brand owners in the production and marketing of safe food to provide reassurance for consumers, Global G.A.P lays the foundation for the protection of scarce resources by the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices with a promise for a sustainable future; today is the world’s leading farm assurance program, involving more than 125 countries.

Social Accountability International’s SA8000 labour rights standard is one of the world’s pre-eminent social standards. SA8000 ensures that our company observes the ILO Core Conventions that prohibit forced labour, child labour and discrimination and permit freedom of association and the right of employees to bargain collectively. Simply put, this is the right of employees to freely join unions and to make representation to the employer (often through a trade union representative) to negotiate working terms (wages, hours, rules) and conditions. 

Under the terms of the SA8000 we may not discriminate against employees (on the grounds of gender, race, religion, orientation) or tolerate abuse and harassment. We are also required to comply with all applicable laws, to have the procedures and processes in place to protect our employees’ health and enable them to work safely, to offer compensation (sufficient to meet the basic needs of employees and their families) when appropriate and to comply with industry standards and national laws on working hours.

The Rainforest Alliance programs meet rigorous sustainable agriculture standards that conserve biodiversity and provide sustainability in livelihoods.

Being a Rainforest Alliance certified banana producer means:
– Producing bananas with respect for the environment and providing good and fair working conditions for our employees
– A management system must be capable of ensuring that compliance with the criteria is maintained over time
Protection of ecosystems and biodiversity are essential environmental criteria;
– The social criteria include detailed health and safety requirements and mandates’ compliance with the labour rights requirements of the ILO (International Labour Organization)
– Employees and their families must have access to health care, education and recreational facilities
– Good agricultural practices, such as minimal and strictly controlled use of agrochemicals, conservation of water and soils and integrated waste management are part of this comprehensive standard.