Sainsburys and Tesco are joining the Co-op and Waitrose in stocking Fairtrade mangoes from Burkina Faso in stores across the country.

Mangoes were the second Fairtrade fresh fruit available anywhere in the world after bananas. Both were first brought to the UK by Fairtrade company AgroFair UK – bananas in 2000, mangoes in 2001. AgroFair also imported the world's first Fairtrade pineapples last year. These are selling in Co-op stores nationwide and AgroFair hopes they will be stocked by other supermarket chains from the autumn.

Duncan White, director of AgroFair UK said: 'AgroFair UK is leading the way in beginning a transformation of the fresh fruit sections of our supermarkets. We want to see the Fairtrade Mark on even more shelves across the country.' The mangoes are certified organic as well as Fairtrade and are also being sold to the organic sector, including the Fresh & Wild stores in London. The varieties are Amelie, Kent and Keitt.

When the Burkina Faso season ends in mid July, a new season of Fairtrade mangoes from Mexico will be available here until mid September, offering Kent, Keitt and Tommy Atkins varieties. AgroFair is working towards a year-round supply of Fairtrade mangoes in the UK and now has three sources which cover nearly half the year. (The third source is Ecuadorian).

Fairtrade is the system which ensures that marginalised farmers in the third world receive a fair return for their labours. The Fairtrade premium, a sum included in the price of each Fairtrade item bought, is used by the farmers for benefits such as health care, clean water supplies and improved sanitation.

Mango farmer Bakary Konaté, 70, from Burkina Faso said: 'Before I joined the Fairtrade system my mangoes used to rot away in the fields. The local market was too small, prices were too bad and we couldn't eat them all. Last year for the first time I didn't see them rotting away and the prices we received were much better. I bought some corrugated iron with the money I earned, I had my son baptised and bought sufficient grain to feed my family.' White added: 'Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world and farmers there are queuing up to join the Fairtrade system. Whole communities benefit when they do and are able to receive a fair price for what they grow. By buying Fairtrade mangoes in the UK, we can help build a better future for more and more farmers and their families on the other side of the world.'

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