Producer Covid-19 Support Update
Nicola Taylor • August 28, 2020
Update from Eswatini in their fight against the pandemic.
Here is the latest update from Eswatini and how they are spending the grant money raised by our kind and generous supporters to educate their employees about Covid-19 and the preventive measures they can utilise to keep themselves and their families safe:
"Sharing here with you is an image taken from our recent staff training we had with ESK's employees on the pandemic (Covid-19).
This training came about as Management realised that some employees may have fears in reporting sick or rather indicating that they suffer from flu-like symptoms in fear of being retrenched; Some companies within the country have negatively dealt with the pandemic creating hostility between employers and employees at national level.
We at WFF did not wish to have any of our staff or ESK staff silently suffering from any sickness as it firstly posed a danger to themselves and secondly to the entire company as a whole - due to this, WFF & ESK Management saw it fit to go through an intense staff training session on the signs and symptoms of Covid and further assure them that if they follow all procedures in reporting sick or the need to seek medical attention they can do so with their jobs safely waiting for their return.
The training also covered on regulations to follow towards ensuring safety and prevention of infection amongst staff.
Your continuous support propels us to do more. "
"We are also pleased to share with you the photo below which was taken from last Thursday’s distribution of the materials to be used by our farmer the prevention of covid-19 infections while they work on their fields and interact with their clients which was purchased through JTS support.
This particular distribution was made under the Manzini region (district), Eswatini’s leading district with Covid + cases . Your support is greatly appreciated in this regard. "
A Message from Tracy Mitchell, Managing Director, & Alistair Menzies, Chair of the Board
The Story of Beer Bread from a granny's kitchen in South Africa to the UK and beyond.
HOW EVERY JAR FROM TRUE ORIGIN CHANGES LIVES IN RURAL KENYA
We’re absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news: Ethical Consumer has extended its prestigious Best Buy status to the entire True Origin product range and Traidcraft Tea! This recognition previously applied only to our True Origin Kilombero rice, but now it covers all True Origin products — and our beloved Traidcraft Tea as well. This is a huge moment for us — and for everyone who chooses to shop with purpose. The Best Buy label is Ethical Consumer’s highest ethical rating, reserved for brands and products that go above and beyond in areas like environmental impact, workers’ rights, sustainability, and transparency. To receive this mark across our True Origin product range is a powerful endorsement of our ongoing commitment to fairness, justice, and sustainability in global trade – and of the way we do business here in the UK too. Ruairidh Fraser, researcher at Ethical Consumer, said “True Origin are clear ethical leaders in their field, so we're delighted to expand our Best Buy certification to cover all of their branded products. It’s rare to find a company of True Origin’s size which demonstrates such a comprehensive understanding of its social and environmental impact.” He continued “True Origin scored 100/100 for its approach to its supply chain, going above and beyond to ensure that workers’ rights are respected and their communities supported. From agriculture to food waste, they are rejecting greenwash and are instead focused on doing the right thing where it matters." From the fragrant Kilombero rice grown in the heart of Malawi to the rich, responsibly sourced Traidcraft Tea, from the fantastic relishes and spices from South Africa to the exotic Kenyan jams — every product in our portfolio stands for dignity, opportunity, and ethical excellence. We couldn’t have done it without our producer partners, staff and customers. Every time you choose True Origin or Traidcraft, you’re choosing a better world — and now you’ve got Ethical Consumer’s seal of approval to back that choice. 🛒 Explore the full Best Buy-approved range here . 📣 Spread the word and tag us when you share the news! Together, we’re changing trade for good. See Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label
Alistair has been a True Origin director since 2020, having spent most of his career within the food industry across a range of commercial, marketing and management roles. With 30 years in management and 25 working for food businesses including Divine and Traidcraft, he has brought a breadth of experience across several categories including hot beverages, snacks, chilled, frozen as well as enjoyable spells in confectionery and wines. Alistair has enjoyed working in fair-trade where every sale ensures fair prices and additional benefits to farming communities and has had the privilege of visiting several producer groups in Chile (vineyards and honey co-operatives), and Ghana (cocoa farmers as well as tropical fruits). “Since joining the board of True Origin in 2020 I’ve seen firsthand how resilient and adaptable the team are when faced with the challenges of global disruptions, ever changing market conditions, and the logistics of shipping products from east and southern Africa to Paisley. All this, to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and food manufacturers in the region. I am delighted to be continuing my journey with True Origin and look forward to building on the hard work that has gone before” Alistair Menzies.
At True Origin we have always loved the range of products from Zaytoun, so when we set up our True Origin & Friends section on our online shop, stocking the delicious olive oils, almonds, dates, maftoul, feekeh and za’atar was a priority. We also love their hand crafted soaps. Palestinian Producers Need our Support More than Ever. True Origin MD, Tracy Mitchell says we can all help, whilst enjoying great quality food from this particular part of the Middle East. “We're proud to offer Zaytoun products at True Origin — they embody ethical sourcing, outstanding quality, and a powerful story of resilience. By bringing these goods to our customers, we’re directly supporting Palestinian producers and helping sustain livelihoods in some of the world’s most challenging conditions. These ingredients don’t just taste good — they do good." Zaytoun CIC is a social enterprise inspired by a love of Palestinian culture, communities and cuisine. They exist to support Palestinian farmers through fair trade – 100% of their profits are reinvested into delivering this mission. So buying Zaytoun products is a great way to ensure a sustainable future for food producers, particularly in these most challenging of times. Choosing and cooking Palestinian food, as Tracy says is a great way to make a positive difference in the lives of the families who rely on selling their unique produce.
Our MD Tracy Mitchell was delighted to take part in the launch of the UK Malawi Chamber of Commerce Scotland (UKMCC) Chapter in Edinburgh today. The event was hosted by the Scotland Malawi Partnership and chaired by Mr Hannington Gondwe, Chief Executive of the UKMCC. It was an inspiring afternoon thinking about growing meaningful trade partnerships between Malawi and Scotland (and the UK more widely). Guests heard from several distinguished speakers including; by video link the President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera and the Minister of Trade and Industry. Vitombiko Mumba, The focus was on wealth creation, job creation and food security as part of its Vision 2063 and clearly sees trade as crucial for transformation.