The great news this week is that the Preda mango puree produced in cooperation with the Aeta Indigenous people of the Zambales and Bataan mountain range is already certified Organic according to the strict European Union organic standards among some of the most strict in the world. The German Government organic certification monitoring agency has given its GO signal for the Preda Bio products to be distributed in Germany with the organic label. This is a great step forward and a important achievement for the Aeta communities of farmers.
It is a remarkable achievement for these indigenous people living in the remote mountains to meet the understanding of the organic standards to respect and implement them.
The Preda Fair-trade mango puree has also passed stringent certification process of Naturland among the most prestigious and higher standards of organic certification in Europe. It is a very well knows and respected organization that certifies and monitors organic standards on food products imported and sold in Germany.
The Preda Mango bio products will soon be in the world shops on available to the Public as bio certified and fair Trade .
During the next inspection by Naturland with its partner CERES of the Aeta ancestral homelands mango growing areas that stretch over the mountain range there will be an additional certification of Preda as a certified fair-trade organization. Preda in cooperation with the Aeta communities are helping to protect the ancestral rights of the Aeta people against the incursions of mining corporations.
They want to explore and exploit the land for minerals on the Aeta domain and this has to be opposed when it arises as it has in other communities in other places. The mining destroys the environment and would make organic certification next to impossible.
While Preda has been a highly respected and recognized Fair Trade and this has been true for the past forty years it is important to have independent monitoring and certification of the Fair Trade criteria and standards.
Preda Fair `trade has been a leader promotion and pioneer in Asian fair trade it is all the better to have a monitored and inspected fair trade process to add and strengthen the reputation and the trust of the Preda customers and partners. Inspections notices how more safeguards can be put in place, older one strengthened and the whole process improved. Everything can get better
The annual monitoring and inspection by Ceres and OCCP of the Philippines will confirm that all the required safeguards and protective systems are in place and are effectively operating .The Internal inspection System developed by Naturland whereby trained local inspectors and guardians of he environment are seeing that the organic standards are being followed, implemented and no contamination of any kind is allowed into the pristine environment.
It is also possible to have the annual inspection by Naturland and CERES to cover other products grown in the same mountain area as the mango trees so as to
Bring them into the organic certification system. This will greatly enhance the livelihood of the Aeta people and provide unique specialized fruit products to the customers who value the purity and chemical free p[products of Preda mango farmers. End.
