The future of bananas is under pressure

Retailers and banana farmers are building better futures together​

• Co-op

  Co-op

  Since becoming one of the first UK retailers to stock Fairtrade bananas in 2000, Co-op has continued to back banana-growing communities through long-term Fairtrade sourcing, productivity programmes and extra payments to work to close the living wage gap.

  In 2025 alone, Co-op sold more than 34,000 tonnes of Fairtrade bananas, equivalent to the weight of almost 14 Olympic-sized swimming pools filled with water, helping generate an estimated £1.43 million in Fairtrade Premium for producers.
  The bananas were sourced from 15 farmer co-operatives and 26 worker-owned producer organisations across four countries, supporting 851 farmers and more than 8,100 workers.

  Premium funds are invested in projects chosen by farmers and workers themselves, including school scholarships and educational resources, healthcare services, housing improvements, community infrastructure, and training programmes that help producers improve productivity, strengthen soil health and adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.

  Co-op also funded the Banana Productivity Improvement Programme (PIP). The PIP project worked with over 1,000 banana producers in Small Producer Organisations in Colombia and the Dominican Republic over 3 years to support producers to grow more bananas per hectare of land and was very successful, with farmers increasing their incomes. 

  Together, Fairtrade and Co-op are helping banana-growing communities build more resilient livelihoods while investing in their future.

  Shop Co-op bananas
• Sainsbury's

  Sainsbury's

  As the UK's leading Fairtrade banana retailer, Sainsbury's has sold more Fairtrade bananas than any other UK supermarket for nine consecutive years. Since 2000, sales of Fairtrade bananas at Sainsbury's have generated an estimated £75 million for Fairtrade producers, helping farming communities invest in priorities such as education, healthcare, housing and local infrastructure.

  In 2025 alone, Sainsbury's sold more than 118,000 tonnes of Fairtrade bananas, equivalent to the weight of almost 800 blue whales, generating an estimated £4.95 million in Fairtrade Premium for producers. Sainsbury's sourced bananas from 21 producer organisations across five countries, supporting more than 1,100 farmers and 11,600 workers. Fairtrade Premium funds have helped finance scholarships and adult education programmes, healthcare services and medicines, improvements to worker housing, climate resilience projects, irrigation systems and reforestation initiatives chosen by farming communities themselves.

  In 2024, Sainsbury's strengthened its commitment further by introducing an additional payment on every banana sold to help address living wage gaps for banana workers in Cameroon, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Ghana. Alongside the Fairtrade Minimum Price and Fairtrade Premium, this additional investment helps producers navigate rising costs while building resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.

  Through its long-standing commitment to sourcing all Fairtrade bananas, Sainsbury's is demonstrating how everyday purchases can help drive fairer incomes and more sustainable livelihoods. With bananas remaining one of its bestselling fruit lines, every bunch supports farmers and workers while contributing to stronger, more resilient producer communities around the world.

  Shop Sainsbury's bananas
• Waitrose

  Waitrose

  In 2026, Waitrose & Partners refreshed their partnership with Fairtrade, which means all Waitrose bananas, on top of being Fairtrade since 2010,  are now also part of the Waitrose Foundation.
  
  Waitrose buys from both smallholder farmers and hired labour set ups, supporting both farmers and workers. The Fairtrade Premium projects funded by sales of Waitrose bananas include schools, clean water facilities, tree planting and emergency relief, all projects chosen by the grower communities themselves. Waitrose now contributes to the Sustainable Banana Programme too, so on top of the Premium projects, some banana communities are working to get their farms even more resilient to climate shocks with dedicated Programme work.

  Working with Fairtrade, Waitrose also pays a supply chain based additional price contribution, called the Banana Bonus,  on top of the Fairtrade Minimum Price and Premium to achieve Living Wages in hired labour settings.  Waitrose is bringing banana growers stories and issues to the fore, through a communications campaign, including in-store POS, customer emails, dedicated website content and social media activity featuring recipe inspiration. ​

  Together, Fairtrade and Waitrose are connecting shoppers with the impact of their purchases while supporting both sustainable farming and thriving producer communities. With a bunch of bananas added to Waitrose baskets every 0.98 seconds, together, we have the potential to make a real difference.​

  Shop Waitrose bananas

• Why are Fairtrade bananas so cheap?

  Why are Fairtrade bananas so cheap?

  Climate pressures and farming costs are increasing, yet banana prices have remained remarkably low. That creates pressure throughout supply chains and can leave producers with fewer resources to invest in adapting to climate change. 

  Bananas are often used by supermarkets as a "value item", with prices kept low to attract shoppers. While the costs of labour, transport, fertiliser and adapting to climate change have increased, banana prices have remained remarkably low. Fairtrade works to ensure farmers and workers receive fairer prices and additional support to invest in their livelihoods and communities.

• What is HREDD?

  What is HREDD?

  HREDD stands for the Human and Environmental Rights Due Diligence legislation that Fairtrade and other organisations are calling for. These laws would require businesses to identify, prevent and address human rights abuses and environmental harm in their supply chains, while taking responsibility for the impacts of their purchasing practices.

• What is Fairtrade calling for?

  What is Fairtrade calling for?

  Fairtrade is calling for fairer business practices, including fair prices, long-term trading relationships and shared responsibility for climate risks. We're also calling on governments to introduce stronger laws that protect human rights and the environment, ensuring farmers and workers are not left to shoulder the costs of climate change alone.

• Where can I buy Fairtrade bananas?

  Where can I buy Fairtrade bananas?

  Fairtrade bananas are widely available in UK supermarkets, including Co-op, Waitrose, Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many independent retailers. Look for the Fairtrade Mark on the banana sticker, packaging or shelf label.

• What are Fairtrade bananas?

  What are Fairtrade bananas?

  Fairtrade bananas are grown and traded according to the Fairtrade Standards, which are designed to support fairer incomes, better working conditions and more sustainable farming. Every time you choose Fairtrade bananas, you're helping farmers and workers invest in their farms, businesses and communities while building resilience to challenges such as climate change.