20 cacao companies have a seal of quality

Ecuadornews:

The Ministry of Foreign Trade delivered yesterday the Premium & Sustainable certification to producers in three provinces. The process to obtain it is free.

Twenty firms producing and exporting cocoa from Los Ríos, Guayas and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas received on Monday, August 6, in Guayaquil, the seal of quality and origin Premium & Sustainable, by the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

The recognition is granted to companies that met international standards such as: high quality, social and environmental responsibility, research, development and innovation, and market diversification. The Minister of Foreign Trade, Pablo Campana, mentioned that this sectoral brand is of great importance for the country as it is a seal of guarantee of good social, environmental practices, high standards of quality, traceability and origin in different export sectors.

“Behind it has processes of quality, origin, traceability, social and environmental responsibility, as well as production processes, postproduction and good agricultural practices,” said Campana. The minister said that the objective of the Premium & Sustainable label is to position the brand in the world, and recognize that behind it there is a differentiation, a collection of foreign currency and a search for better prices in favor of producers.

However, he stressed that currently, despite the efforts of the country, cannot compete under the same standards or volumes of the largest cocoa producing countries in the world, such as Brazil or Cote d’Ivoire. “Therefore, with a sectoral brand, with an organic cocoa and producing processed products, we can differentiate ourselves from other producing countries, since we will have higher prices, revenues and benefits for the country,” said Campana.

Javier Orellana, undersecretary of Foreign Trade Services, emphasized that the sector brand, visually, has to offer the world a lot of quality, sustainability and national product information. “In these 20 companies that today receive this distinctive seal are close to 25% of the export of the sector; It is important the vision they have to contribute to this initiative, “he said.

Camilo España, head of Certification of the Association of Organic Producers of Vinces, said that this recognition will be very helpful for the internal and external marketing of their cocoa, also “we will have an international identity.” “We always help the producer to receive a good production, better prices and protect the environment. Now with this seal, it will surely improve the situation of our partners much more, “said España

He added that the guild started in 2007 with 15 producers, who met before the need to improve the situation of the sector. Currently, there are 300 cocoa farmers who own an average of two hectares. Companies interested in obtaining the seal of quality, whose process is free, should contact the Ministry of Foreign Trade to know the guidelines to be followed for its granting.

Minister Campana explained that in 2017 cocoa sector exports generated close to $ 700 million. In the middle, more than 120,000 families work directly. In January 2018, the Ministry launched five sectors (bananas, tuna, cocoa, flowers and shrimp), which represent 70% of the country’s non-oil exports. For the promotion, the entrepreneurs have the backing of the 31 ProEcuador commercial offices, located in 26 countries. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/cacao-empresas-ecuador-sello-premiun-sustainable