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\\u201cIf we want to continue to see truly organic, truly sustainable produce, we need to be willing to pay a fair price for it.\\u201d

Daniella Velazquez De Leon (23:35-23:51)

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Even pre-supply chain crisis, pre-pandemic, banana prices have been unfair and almost unethical. But especially in the past three years the organic banana industry has faced enormous cost pressure. Packing materials, cartons, pallets, etc. have risen close to 20%. Organic fertilizer has also increased significantly, and, of course, labor costs are rising year after year. All of these things factor into how bananas are priced, and yet, we aren\\u2019t seeing the prices rise like the rest of the food industry. This episode discusses some of the problems organic banana companies are facing during this supply chain crisis.

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Audee Rios is the Sales Director at Coliman Mexico. She\\u2019s worked at the company for twelve years and develops sales plans and explores new markets for Mexican bananas. She\\u2019s now mainly focused on organics and fair trade. Daniella Velazquez De Leon is a fourth generation organic banana grower and third generation of the largest family owned banana wholesaler in the USA, Organics Unlimited. She joined the family business officially four years ago and is now the General Manager. She, of course, wears many hats. Their main focus since day one has been organic bananas.\\xa0\\xa0

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For Coliman and Organics Unlimited, the grand majority of their banana production comes from Mexico. In terms of getting their product to the States, that hasn\\u2019t been too hard since they\\u2019re able to use trucks instead of boats. But materials, fertilizers, everything that goes into aiding the production of those bananas - that\\u2019s where the problem with the shipping containers comes in for them.\\xa0

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\\u201cThe world\\u2019s shipping container shortage and congestion at ports has caused a significant increase in the price of freight and ultimately the price of materials. So that\\u2019s having a significant impact on the price of each box of bananas.\\u201d Daniella Velazquez De Leon (10:11-10:32)

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As organic production has become mainstream and has gained popularity, large multinational companies have penetrated the organic industry. This isn\\u2019t all bad as it makes organic produce more widely available to consumers. But when we lose sight of the original mission behind the organic movement, that\\u2019s where the problem begins. What happened with conventional bananas is now happening with organic bananas. There\\u2019s been a control on the price in growing regions which are increasingly dependent on a small number of multinationals, which are forcing the price down in spite of increasing prices. Daniella\\u2019s key message to consumers is to be conscious and try to learn about what\\u2019s going on in the growing regions and who you are buying your produce from. Costs are going up so consumers should see the price of their produce go up as well. Rising costs WILL have an impact on the economic sustainability and competitiveness of the organic banana industry.

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What Daniella has heard in the past is that retailers aren\\u2019t willing to sell bananas at a higher price, and consumers aren\\u2019t willing to pay more. Her response to that is that there simply will be no more production if they\\u2019re consistently selling their product at a loss. Certifications come at a cost. Paying fair wages with benefits comes at a cost. Supporting these independent growers and these smaller wholesalers who are actually living their values ensures that we are still getting truly organic and sustainable produce. Consumers have to be willing to pay a fair price for what these growers are providing.

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Even with the rise in prices, organic bananas are still one of the cheapest organic options you can buy. If you\\u2019re seeing organic bananas being sold for less than a dollar, that farmer isn\\u2019t getting paid fairly. Paying a higher price for organic bananas doesn\\u2019t mean you\\u2019re getting overcharged, it means you\\u2019re ensuring the farmers and growers can survive.\\xa0

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You can find more information on both of these companies at their websites:

https://www.organicsunlimited.com/\\xa0

https://www.coliman.com/Eng/Fruits\\xa0

How to get involved:

• Join The Produce Moms Group on Facebook and continue the discussion every week!\\xa0
• Reach out to us - we\\u2019d love to hear more about where you are in life and business! Find out more here.\\xa0

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