True Origin Partnerships Help Meru Herbs Secure Important Food Safety Certification

Angus Coull • July 2, 2024

Read about the impact Meru Herbs expect from this funding grant

FSSC 2000 ACCREDITATION FOR MERU HERBS KENYA

True Origin Partnerships is delighted to be supporting women led Fair Trade food producer organisation Meru Herbs in Kenya with a grant to help secure food safety certification. T.O.P. will provide a total of £6000 over the next 3 years to enable the producer organisation to achieve this ongoing status.

Meru Herbs is a woman led organisation in rural Kenya and is dedicated to Fair Trade principles with a mission to empower women, alleviate poverty and improve standards of living. Meru Herbs gives small holder farmers the opportunity to sell their produce and improve their income by supplying directly to Meru and opening up global markets.

The range of their jams, marmalades, pickles, chutney, sauces and herbal teas supplied through True Origin are very popular with foodies and Fair Trade supporters. This accreditation will further enhance their appeal to consumers.

The FSSC 2200 is an International food safety certification Standard for food manufacturing. It offers a certification scheme that includes auditing and certification of Social Sustainability Management Systems to ensure safe and fair working conditions. This is in line with Meru Herbs’ Fair Trade Principles.

Meru Herbs wanted to have FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS CERTIFICATION not only because it aligns with their Fair Trade principles but because it will cover their entire operations. They currently have valid certifications for Organic Standards certified by ECOCERT that cover the Herbal Tea. The Organic certificate however does not cover the jams and sauces. Having the FSSC Certification will now cover all the jams and sauces and include the herbal teas as well.

BENEFITS OF THE FSSC FOR MERU HERBS COMMUNITY

1. Increased Food Safety Standards for Meru Herbs Tea, Jams and Sauces therefore inspiring more confidence to our Trading Partners and consumers.

2. Putting quality intellectual Production and Processing systems in place that can ensure continuity for years to come even with staff succession.

3. The inspection and audit can be done locally by SGS Kenya

4. Opening more markets for Meru Herbs (increased sales) through our Trading Partners such as True Origin.

Sally Sawaya, Meru Herbs MD said, “The increased market due to FSSC accreditation will definitely uplift the Meru Herbs current situation due to loss of sales post-covid and with the closing of Traidcraft UK who stocked a large percentage of Meru Herbs jams and sauces. It will not only continue to create employment for the women in the community but also provide income from produce to our farmers.”

22nd June 2024

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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.