The Organic Herb Trading Company (OHTC) has become UK’s first processor and distributor of FairWild herbs and spices.
From the autumn of 2014 OHTC will hold stocks of FairWild nettle, limeflower and liquorice – all of which are additionally certified organic by the Soil Association.
“We believe that FairWild products will play an increasingly important role within ethical supply chains in the future” commented Eileen Veitch-Clark, who has helped lead the project at OHTC. “Wild-growing plants form part of our tradition and history and in many countries are an important source of income for people who do not own their own land – often some of the poorest and most marginalised of the population. The FairWild certification scheme not only ensures they are paid fairly and treated respectfully; it also guarantees collection of these plants is at a sustainable level, ensuring they will be around for the generations to come.”
OHTC believes that through participation in the FairWild scheme, it will be able to play an important role in pioneering sustainable supply chains for wild-collected ingredients.
OHTC managing director, Jim Twine, told Natural Products: “The Organic Herb Trading Company is really proud of its long standing association with the FairWild Foundation and we are keen to do everything in our powers to help promote the sale of products that meet their standards. Innovative food ingredients that are both FairWild and Soil Association Organic certified are good for the planet and the people that harvest them. And with leading brands like Pukka, Neal’s Yard Remedies and London & Scottish already on board we expect the market to really take off in the years that come. The timing just feels right – especially with the next generation of ethically consumers helping to drive the resurgence in organic sales.”
Picture: FairWild liquorice production
