UK: Social accountability in the soft fruit chain

With growing consumer and retailer interest in the social accountability of products from clothes to fresh produce, substrate manufacturer Cocogreen is using Fruit Focus to highlight the issue to the UK soft fruit industry in regard to the wider supply chain.

“Many UK supermarket chains are setting ambitious targets in regard to environmental and social issues with responsible sourcing implications for both the immediate, and wider, supply chain,” says Cocogreen commercial director, Thomas Ogden. “Substrate, one of the three main components of the UK soft fruit industry, is starting to come under increased scrutiny in relation to retailer audits.”

“Unusually, we control our whole supply chain − from plantation to end product,” says Thomas. “SA8000 gives growers peace of mind, a comprehensive standard is applied to our whole operation and not just the manufacturing end.”

The Cocogreen stand (320) will also feature technical advances including H2CoCo − the wetting and water conservation agent.

“H2CoCo is helping soft fruit businesses raise productivity by improving water, fertilizer and labour efficiency in coir grown crops,” explains Thomas. ”While dramatically speeding up initial wetting up, by continuing applications H2CoCo delivers tangible benefits throughout the crop’s lifetime.

“In addition, by using the product in the summer growers can flush out ions − deposited by fertilizers during the hot spells in spring − and reduce EC levels in a day, rather than a week.

“With the National Living Wage set to significantly increase labour costs, fruit growers are being forced to find production cost savings. Alongside technological advances, with complete control of our supply chain − cutting out middlemen − Cocogreen offers a quality, highly competitive product and reliable supply,” says Thomas.

For more information:
Cocogreen Group
Thomas Ogden
Sales & Marketing Director
T: +44 (0) 161 242 6852
[email protected]
www.cocogreen.co.uk