Meet a few producers from Meru Herbs, Kenya

Nicola Taylor • September 2, 2019

Creating sustainable livelihoods through fair trade

A worker in the jam factory at Meru Herbs in Kenya

Angelica Kaabara – Producer and Head of Meru Herbs Ecolodge

After completing my education at Materi Girls High Schoolin 1991,I was lucky enough to start working at the neighbouring Meru Herbs Project which at that point only had a tea factory concentrating solely on hibiscus. In 1992 we had a volunteer by the name of Franco who introduced us to jam making and I was selected to head the Jam Factory. When we first began, we prepared the jam in simple cooking pots as we did not have a factory and so all the cooking took place outside. We were quickly able to build a factory that was much more hygienic and well equipped to handle our increasing orders.

Today we prepare more than 100,000 jars of assorted jams and sauces which for me is a great achievement considering our humble beginnings.

Apart from being a worker at the Meru Herbs Project, I am also a Meru Herbs organic producer. I was among the first 43 farmers to get organically certified.

MY ACHIEVEMENTS

I feel very fortunate to be an employee and farmer for Meru Herbs as it has allowed me to achieve and benefit a lot. It is the main source of income for my household and I have benefited from the bursary fund which has enabled me to educate my two children. I have also been a recipient of the Women’s Bicycle Project which provides my only mode of transport.

I have been able to produce food both for my family and also to sell through fair trade partners which ensures the health of my family and allows me to give back to my community and help other farmers. I am very proud to be an employee of Meru Herbs as I have seen the project from its humble beginnings to where it is now. I have also had the opportunity to travel to Italy and South Africa for food shows.

I have also taken leadership positions by heading the Meru Herbs Jam Factory until 2018. I was promoted to head the recently completed Meru Herbs Ecolodge in August 2018. I am proud to be associated with the project which is a source of great pride to the people in the area.

Evangeline Kawira – Meru Herbs Producer since 1995

Evangeline Kawira has been a Meru Herbs Producer since 1995

During my time as a mango farmer, I have seen a lot of fruit go to waste. This is because most of the farmers around this area have mangoes and so once you have sold a few in the market there was still a lot of fruits left over which went to waste. Therefore I am delighted to have been supplying fruits to Meru Herbs since 1995, they use the mangoes to cook jam and us farmers were so happy because there was value added to the fruits and now we could harvest and sell the fruits instead them being wasted. This has provided additional income for me. I am married with four children. Three boys and one girl who I have managed to educate to university level. I have used the income from my sales to educate my children and improve my living conditions. My appeal to our fair trade buyers is to continue buying our products because the more they buy the more fruits we will supply to Meru Herbs to make the fruit jam.

MATHEW KAJIWE – Meru Herbs Producer since 2004

MATHEW KAJIWE has been a Meru Herbs Producer since 2004

I have been farming carcade (hibiscus), lemongrass and chamomile for Meru Herbs since 2004 for them to use in their teas and jams. I was in the second group that converted to organic farming so I now grow these herbs without the use of any fertilizers, pesticides or chemicals. Being a producer to Meru Herbs has provided me with enough of a sustainable income to allow me to open a shop near my home as an extra source of income for my family. I have a wife Margaret Kajiwe and two children aged 11 years and 8 years. I believe that the more our fair trade partners buy from us the more the farmers will benefit from the sale of organic produce.

Florence Nkirote – Producer and employee of Meru Herbs since 2004

Florence Nkirote – Producer and employee of Meru Herbs since 2004

I began working at the Meru Herbs Project after finishing school. I started working at the jam factory. Later I had training at the Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) and started working in the Agriculture Department. I am passionate about Organic Farming and I enjoy working with the growers group. I have been able to support my family with the income from the produce and also as an employee of Meru Herbs. I am a mother to a three year old daughter and I hope to educate her to the best of my ability. I have had a chance to travel to Italy which was a great moment for me to understand how the whole value chain works. It was a great joy to be able to see our Meru Herbs products at the international shops where our final customers access them. I am very grateful to those people who buy our Meru Herbs products and help us make a better life for our families and ask that you continue to buy them. Thank you.

Dignity Through Trade and Action

By Angus Coull • July 10, 2025
Launching Our 2024/25 Annual Report

Celebrating the Ethical Consumer 'Best Buy' Seal of Approval

By Tracy Mitchell • June 30, 2025
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

Welcoming Alistair Menzies as New Chair of True Origin Board

By Angus Coull • June 30, 2025
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.

A Real Sense of Palestine from Zaytoun

By Angus Coull • June 24, 2025
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.

True Origin MD Speaks at Launch of new UK Malawi Chamber of Commerce Scotland Chapter

By Angus Coull • June 12, 2025
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.

Update on our jam, marmalade, chutney and sauce product range

By Tracy Mitchell • June 6, 2025
At True Origin, we know many of you love our range of jams, marmalades, chutneys, and sauces from Eswatini Kitchen and have been awaiting an update on their availability. Unfortunately, after six months, we have still not received any clear answers or reassurances to give us confidence that the food safety issue that came to light in November 2024 has been properly addressed. As a result, we are not able to restock these products. As a fair trade business, guided by the Ten Principles of Fair Trade, True Origin sought the guidance and advice of WFTO on this matter to ensure that we have done as much as we possibly could to avoid this outcome. We are, however, seeking a new supplier to continue supporting farmers and producers in the Kingdom of Eswatini and to provide you with fair trade jams, marmalades, chutneys and sauces. We will of course let you know as soon as we have replacement products confirmed. The following products are being discontinued: • Peach & Ginger Jam • Lime Marmalade • Orange Marmalade • Orange & Cinnamon Marmalade • Ruby Grapefruit Marmalade • Medium Curry Sauce • Swazi Fire • Lime Pickle • Mango Pickle • Vegetable Pickle • Hot Mango Chutney • Mixed Fruit Chutney • Pineapple Chutney • Piquante Peppers Marula Jelly The details for the recall are here . Please note that the following jams and sauces are still available as these come from different suppliers: Guava Jam Hibiscus Jam Papaya & Lemon Jam Pineapple Jam Tomato & Chilli Sauce Tomato & Garlic Sauce If you have any questions, please do get in touch info@trueorigin.org.uk

Why Buy Kilombero Rice

By Angus Coull • May 8, 2025
The UK's Most Ethical Rice! On World Fair Trade Day - And Every Day!

Mary Popple retires as chair of True Origin

By Angus Coull • March 26, 2025
After six years of leadership, Mary Popple has retired from her role as Chair of the True Origin Board to assume the role as an ordinary board member. She leaves a legacy of steadfast, values-led leadership, resilience and commitment to Fair Trade during a period of significant transition for the social enterprise. First appointed to the True Origin Board in 2013, Mary became the first woman to take on the role of Chair in April 2019. Her journey into the position was shaped by a successful career in the IT industry and a passion for Fair Trade. Mary was an active member of the influential St Andrews Fair Trade group which successfully campaigned to designate the town as a Fairtrade area, and for The Open Golf championship to become the first UK sports tournament to commit to using Fairtrade products. This was complemented with over twenty years’ experience of involvement in other trade justice and development opportunities for women. During her six-year tenure as Chair of the True Origin board, Mary strategically led the social enterprise through a challenging external environment at a challenging time for many small businesses. Less than a year into her new role, the Covid pandemic emerged, causing significant uncertainty for staff, producers and customers as well as disruption in global supply chains. The war in Ukraine and cost-of-living crisis soon followed. Despite the challenges, under Mary’s leadership, True Origin generated over £2.3million in sales income that included £733,000 worth of Kilombero rice from Malawi. That’s equivalent to 245 tonnes or nearly 5 million servings of rice! The sale of the rice provides families in Malawi, one of the least developed countries in the world, with sustainable incomes and better food security. Mary played an instrumental role in rolling out the social enterprise’s rebrand and positioning the organisation as the go-to place for fair and fine products under the new True Origin banner. The product range subsequently increased during her tenure, solidifying True Origin’s reputation in the fine foods market. New products included a range of condiments such the soon-to-become both a customer favourite and one of Mary’s favourite products, sun-dried fig balsamic reduction as well as the popular beer bread of which over 150,000 packets were sold during her term. Mary’s leadership as Chair will also be remembered for her values-led approach, guiding the organisation to decisions with its founding fair trade principles in mind and the interests of producers always at the forefront. She invested time in expanding the board’s skillset and further developing the organisation’s robust governance procedures, upholding True Origin’s commitment to transparency with its stakeholders and leaving the organisation in a strong position to tackle future challenges. She also brought an instinctive knowledge of Fair Trade customers in Scotland and beyond to the role.

Celebrating International Women's Day

By Angus Coull • March 7, 2025
Thanks to the women of Meru Herbs Kenya

...But Give a Man a Fishing Rod

By Liam McLaughlin • February 24, 2025
Our former Operations Manager and now volunteer, Liam McLaughlin caught up with Kenneth Mwakasungula on the challenges of being a Kilombero Rice farmer
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