The year-long pilot will feature a range of items including UK potatoes, green beans, Egyptian citrus and South African grapes, and has been developed to increase the range of organic products that can carry the Fairtrade mark.

Commenting on the incentives behind the joint venture, Harriet Lamb executive director of Fairtrade said: 'While our priority is to assist producers in the south who suffer most from the problems of world trade, we recognise that many of these problems are shared by farmers in developed countries as well.

'This trial with the Soil Association will help us learn how the philosophy and principles of our work can best be applied to the UK.' Albert Tucker, md at Fairtrade support organisation Twin Trading, added: 'This collaboration is a real opportunity to support marginalised producers, and we are committed to encouraging sustainable development and enabling producers to gain real value for their efforts. There's a downward pressure on producers at the moment and the real question for the UK is how to get the best value for their product.

'We aim to get better benefits for producers across all lines and hope to include farmers' organisations and supermarkets in our efforts to get more value out of the supply chain.' Director of the Soil Association, Patrick Holden, added: 'This new scheme will help promote the changes needed to ensure a fair return to farmers.' Additionally, Fairtrade mangoes (pictured) will hit the shelves of the Co-op, Sainsbury's and Waitrose this month.

The mangoes are from the El Jardin en la Frontera association of farmers in El Oro, Ecuador, and last year they were the first mangoes in the world to be given the Fairtrade mark.

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