VANCOUVER, CANADA - Continuing in its commitment to social and environmentally focused campaigns, Oppy has earned a Fair for Life Trade Certification; resulting in an exciting new opportunity for the marketer, growers, and customers alike. 

“This certification helps develop our business, but more importantly it helps develop the grower communities that our products come from,” said Jason Fung, Oppy’s Director of Category Development, in a press release. “We’re interested in—and intentional about—creating an avenue for more socially responsible fresh produce to reach the market. We’re eager to explore the possibilities, as we believe there are not only economic implications, but also authentic opportunities to improve the quality of life in our growing areas.”

Oppy’s newest Fair for Life certification marks it as one of the few licensed North American produce companies qualified to bring Fair for Life labeled products to market.

“Fair for Life examines the entire supply chain, assuring that certified products are handled exclusively by companies that demonstrate ethical working conditions from farm to final delivery,” added Fung.

Oppy originally began its ethical sourcing programs over 15 years ago with Fair Trade Certified pineapple from Costa Rica, and became the first-ever Fair Trade Certified sweet bell producer in 2011 with its Mexican greenhouse partner, Divemex. This opportunity, as the beginning of Oppy’s commitment to ethical working conditions, resulted in close to 1,000 scholarships for Divemex workers and family members, a new dental clinic operating in Culiacan, and renovations and expansions to local schools. Oppy pepper grower brand SunSelect Produce followed with its own certification in 2014, supporting the community of guest workers in Guatemala.

Fung says that Oppy is optimistic on its ability to deliver similar results with this latest certification, adding, “We’re celebrating the prospect of building on this key area of our business while illustrating our commitment to taking care of the people who grow our produce, and the land where it’s produced.”

This most recent certification joins the Fair Trade and Rain Forest Alliance as one of Oppy’s current responsibility-minded programs, with plans to deliver Oppy Fair for Life grapes from Peru next fall. Oppy is also actively pursuing plans to expand its Fair for Life program through new partnerships.

“We are excited to expand on the good work that we have done with our grower partners over the years,” said John Anderson, Oppy Chairman, President, and CEO. “We also aspire to attract new partners who share our sustainable thinking and conduct by offering them a unique new channel to the marketplace.”

The Fair for Life-Social & Fair Trade certification program is facilitated by the Institute for Marketecology in Weinfelden, Switzerland.

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