Major step forward for Fyffes melon business

Ireland-based fruit importer Fyffes has attained GlobalGAP certification for its Honduran melon farm Suragroh, something which it says builds on a two-year transformation of the operation by local management.

That process is part of a wider reorganisation of the company’s Honduran and Guatemalan melon businesses that began in 2021 with the appointment of a new management team, led by general manager of melon operations Genivaldo Pereira.

Since then, Fyffes reports, the farms have been on a “journey of improvement” in social and labour standards, environmental stewardship, and strong governance.

Last year, Suragroh was awarded the coveted Socially Responsible Company Seal from the Honduran Foundation for Socially Responsible Business.

Pereira said its latest certification further demonstrated Fyffes’ commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.

“I would like to thank all the people at Suragroh and within the global compliance team who have worked very hard to achieve this important distinction,” he commented.

”My goal since I joined Fyffes melon business has been to transform the melon farms and packhouses so that we can grow the business. This certification is valued by our customers all over the world but especially in Europe, providing a springboard for global growth for our business and benefitting the local communities.”

Hugo Hays, global director of compliance and food safety at Fyffes, said: ”In October 2001, Fyffes was the first company ever to certify GlobalGAP [then EurepGAP] for bananas. We have been unwavering in our support of best agricultural practices since then, and it is with immense pride and gratitude to my colleagues that our melon operations are also now being recognised.”

He added: “Achieving this certification has needed some fundamental changes to our melon production systems and philosophy, which our teams have fully embraced, to offer full confidence to customers worldwide of our commitment to leading-edge compliance.”