India

Fruits of the Himalaya

Fruits of the Himalaya is a new fair trade company based in the Indian Himalaya. They want to source wild mushrooms, forest nuts and mountain honey in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Fruits of the Himalaya is working in partnership with eleven villages in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Recently the Forest Department handed over complete control of all wild produce from the jungle areas to the local population. Permission has been granted to Fruits of the Himalaya by the Grand Panchayats (village council) of each village to work with its inhabitants to harvest mushrooms including morels and ceps.

Fruits of the Himalaya works mainly with women's groups who will receive money directly for produce. Prices paid will be 10% over the current market rate. Individuals are being carefully selected from each village to give training to those involved in the project. They ensure the mushrooms are harvested in a sustainable way and that a quality export mushroom is produced. Over time quality controllers will pass on their skills and training to others in the villages. Training is also being given on how to recognise and harvest other wild edible fungus. All the wild mushrooms are harvested from above the level of cultivation thereby ensuring that they are not contaminated with any pesticides or fertilizers.

Fruits of the Himalaya is working very closely with government agencies to bring about a state wide initiative to teach people about sustainable harvesting of non timber forest produce, thereby allowing poor rural people to make a valuable and continuous income from such commodities as wild mushrooms whilst protecting the biodiversity of the region and reducing deforestation. Tropical Wholefoods has been working with the director of Fruits of the Himalaya, Sonia Kundu to facilitate funding for the project and marketing of produce. Loan funds have been kindly put forward by JJ Charitable Trust.

We hope to be able to purchase our first cep and morel mushrooms from Fruits of the Himalaya in September 2006.