At the beginning of 2019 we tried something new in Togo: With an app, we wanted to improve and above all simplify the flow of information between family farmers and gebana. Michael Stamm, member of our development team, talks about the experiment and how we will continue.
When trade flourishes, countries can develop and economies can grow. This leads to a variety of offerings that are adapted to consumer needs. Production, supply chain, distribution – the entire system becomes more efficient, thus increasing prosperity. So why change the rules of trade? Because wealth is unevenly distributed and we as consumers cannot see the whole picture.
Something's happening in Brazil. More and more farmers are turning their backs on deadly pesticides. The Brazilian television station "Rede Globo" has produced a video about gebana Brasil and its organic farmers. Watch the video with English subtitles here.
I am Bianca Trevino, 34 years old, born in the USA. I started working for gebana in July 2018. After a year of planning, my partner – Michael Stamm, who also works for gebana – and I decided to move to West Africa. Not an easy decision with an infant (our son Mateo was nine months old at the time). Our life in Benin and Togo is nothing but ordinary, yet fully extraordinary. I am excited to share our experiences with you here in the future.
After about 9 months under relatively hard living conditions in the north of Benin we packed our stuff and moved to Togo. The reason for this big step is a structural change in gebana Benin. In other words: the gebana group is not a shareholder of gebana Benin anymore but only a long-term client. Consequently, my full presence was not needed anymore.
After spending some time in Lomé, Togo, in February to find the right home, we started to pack all our stuff! Fortunately, we carefully had kept all the boxes from the previous move and things went quite fast.
Since 2016 data on sustainability are an integral part of our yearly report. In the table below you can see all the relevant figures.
For over 40 years we have been involved in fair trade. However, we announced recently that we are no longer labelling our products ‘fair’.
This is because ‘fair’ suggests satisfactory conditions, whereas the actual situation is often different. With our trade, we want to have more of an impact in the countries of origin. Hence, we will drive forward our commitment to social and ecological sustainability in a more focussed way.
Carolin from CaroKocht created a great cookies recipe with our delicious oranges from Greece, dates from Tunisia and chocolate from Togo! Using dates only as a sweetener, these cookies will have intense orange and tahini notes. Thanks to the oats they’re a great way to start you day, especially when you only have time to grab a quick bite. In the afternoon they go well with a cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy!
On the 20th anniversary of gebana as a trading company we decided to stop using the word ‘fair’ in future. Read about what led to this decision and precisely why we want to work even harder for fair trade as a result.
Gerold Suter from the Swiss chocolate company Max Felchlin visited Togo in November. It was his first visit after about 3 years – and an intense week full of surprises...
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