Kilombero is the Most Ethical Rice on the Market

Nicola Taylor • June 11, 2019

Changing Lives, One Bag at a Time

The Ethical Consumer magazine has just carried out a review on the most ethical rice on the market and Kilombero Rice came out on top! Here is a link to the article.

Mary Popple, the new Chairperson of JTS, said “We are delighted that Kilombero rice has come out on top. The combination of our very strong direct link with the farmers, encouragement in sustainable working practices, and our particular support of women farmers has helped us achieve this great result. We are extremely proud of this brilliant news and hope that it will enable us to grow the market for these Great Taste Award winning products. “

Tracy Mitchell, Business Manager at JTS, said “This is fantastic news for JTS as we celebrate 10 years of providing dignity through trade. We are grateful for the support the Scottish Government has provided for our work with the farmers in Malawi through its Malawi Development Programme and are pleased that the review by the Ethical Consumer recognised the strength of our relationship with those farmers."

Martin Hamilton, the Operations Manager of JTS also said "It is great to have this external recognition of what we have long believed to be the case!"

There was much jubilation in Karonga, Malawi when we advised the management and board members of KASFA (Kaporo Smallholder Farmer Association) about the accolation of the most ethical rice. The chairman of KASFA, Howard Msukwa, whom many of our customers have met during his visits to the UK, had this to say:

"Kilombero is grown and processed by the small holder farmers of Karonga in Malawi. It is grown under very hot conditions, these farmers eat only once per day as Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is our cash crop, our rescuer, our hope, our wealth. Much as we thank you who enjoy the product, we sincerely and humbly request you to whisper to your friends that " Did you know that Kilombero is the best and most ethical rice on the market?" Join the team of 'fair' people by eating Kilombero rice and your only regret will be that you didn't start eating it sooner." Ethical Consumer magazine also undertook a Q&A session with Howard which you can read here.

Both white and brown Kilombero rice have also won Great Taste awards and because it is fairly traded, it has empowered the rice farmers to create a brighter future for their families, mainly by giving them a more sustainable livelihoodallowing them to work their way out of poverty with dignityand enabling them to send their children to school.Great Taste most certainly does change lives.

BUY YOUR NEW FAVOURITE RICE BY CLICKING HERE

Offer from Ethical Consumer magazine:

To help us celebrate our rice, Ethical Consumer have kindly provided us with an offer for our customers who may wish to subscribe to the magazine.

Just Trading Scotland supporters get 14 months for the price of 12 with the offer code JTS19 - simply put the code into the "notes" field on the subscription pages.

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A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.