FFM SPS supports Farm Fare Produce in implementing the SMETA 4-Pillar quality standard

From September to December 2022, the Zimbabwean company Farm Fare Produce – a family-owned horticultural business supplying fresh vegetables mostly to retailers and supermarkets – was supported by the Fit for Market SPS programme in implementing the SMETA 4-Pillar quality standard, demonstrating the company’s efforts in good practice on social compliance, environment, and business ethics.

A local Zimbabwean expert was assigned to conduct a needs assessment in preparation for the upcoming audit and to train the staff on the SMETA standard and its practical implications. The expert highlighted the corrective actions to be made, including the development of policies and procedures. The company then carried out the corrective actions via the tailor-made advice provided.

Farm Fare Produce is now enabled to develop and implement the procedures and other requirements to successfully pass the final SMETA 4-Pillar Audit. Thanks to one of the participants for his enthusiastic feedback about the support:

The training and coaching was hugely beneficial and has prepared us extremely well for our SMETA accreditation.

This activity is supported by the Fit For Market SPS programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.