STANDARDS FOR FAIR TRADING ORGANISATIONS

People's Recovery, Empowerment and
Development Assistance Foundation, Inc.

09 August 2001

HON. RAMON LACBAIN
Vice-Governor, Province of Zambales
Provincial Capitol, Iba, Zambales

Dear Hon. Vice-Governor;

Greetings from the PREDA Fairtrade!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share our experience with regards to marketing of mango products during the recent Zambales Mango Forum that you organized and hosted at the provincial capitol. I hope that I have provided the participants with some inspiration to make mango as the best food product of Zambales. During my presentation I have discussed some other issues aside from marketing.

1. Mango traders and retailers are selling mangoes as “Zambales Mango” for a better price even if they are not produced in Zambales.

2. The threat to reduce the price of mango when the huge plantation of Visayas and Mindanao start producing in large quantity.

3. The growing consciousness of consumers about the dangers of pesticides and harmful chemicals used in growing mango and in producing derivative products such as dried mangoes, purees, juices, candies, etc. There is a growing desire of people to consume organically grown fresh mangoes and mango-based products.

4. Environmental impact of the indiscriminate use of synthetic chemicals in mango production endangering other farm products and animals

During the same meeting I have suggested the following to address the above issues:

- The setting-up of ZAMBALES MANGO CERTIFICATION AND STANDARDS. This committee should be composed of representatives from the association of mango growers, DENR, Dept of Agriculture, Dept. of Trade and Industry, the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University and NGOs who are promoting organic farming.

- Initially the committee shall issue a certification that the fresh mango fruit products are indeed produced in Zambales. This can be in the form of a small rounded sticker pasted on each mango in order to distinguish them from other mangoes produced in other provinces. Later on the committee will be expanded and become affiliated with the National Organic Certification Authority of which an ad hoc committee was organized during the recent National Organic Farmiing Conference that I personally attended.

- Zambales Mango being very special should be organically grown. This will give distinction to Zambales mango from other mango produced in other provinces. This effort has to start immediately before the Visayas and Mindanao mango flood the market with cheap mangoes that are most likely produced with chemicals like the bananas that come from Davao. Very soon within 3 to 5 years the consumers will be treated to a sumptuous and succulent organically grown fresh mango and other mango-based produce.

- Introduction of other mango-based products and processed mango such as the unknown “mango vinegar” which is best marketed as organic vinegar made from Zambales mango. Other products such as mango chutney, mango jam, mango-tamarind candies, green mango preserves, pickled mango and many others should be introduced to the local market at a very reasonable price to encourage local consumers to patronize the products first before marketing them nationwide and exported to other countries. Once accepted by the market a decent increase in net profit for the producers will be realized.

- promotion of organic farming in general will all the more guarantee that the mangoes of Zambales are truly organic and not contaminated by chemicals used in other crops. Other provinces even impose quarantine in agricultural and livestock. In due time the Zambales mango industry will be well known as such. In general it will improve agriculture in the province.

We are urging you to make a public campaign in the province to support this endeavor. I also urge you to bring the agenda to the provincial board for the necessary resolutions to be passed in consultation with the Zambales mango producers association. Rest assured that we will support you in this campaign.

Respectfully yours,

ALEX CORPUS HERMOSO
Programme Director