A warm welcome to True Origin
True Origin has two distinct parts: True Origin Foods and True Origin Partnerships. We work closely together, and with our producer partners and their communities in the Global South.
True Origin Foods
works directly with a network of smallholder farmers and producers in the global south to source the finest ethical foods.
As a WFTO Guaranteed Member, True Origin Foods adheres to fair trade principles. We believe this is the fairest way to do business and as a social enterprise based in the West of Scotland, we also apply these principles across our UK operations, creating employment here and striving to reduce our environmental impact.
Our purchases of fine foods help farmers and producer communities receive a fair and reliable income, enabling them to buy equipment, education, infrastructure and take care of their environment.
True Origin Partnerships is the new name for The Balmore Trust, reflecting our close working relationships with True Origin Foods, and with our producer partners and their communities in the global south.
As a charity we aim to empower our partner communities, working with them on locally led development projects, responding to requests for grants, and supporting the fair purchase of their produce through our retail arm, True Origin Foods.
LATEST NEWS
The latest posts from the True Origin blog. Click through to read all our posts as we bring fair trade to the world!
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Launching Our 2024/25 Annual Report
We’re absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news: Ethical Consumer has extended its prestigious Best Buy status to the entire True Origin product range and Traidcraft Tea! This recognition previously applied only to our True Origin Kilombero rice, but now it covers all True Origin products — and our beloved Traidcraft Tea as well. This is a huge moment for us — and for everyone who chooses to shop with purpose. The Best Buy label is Ethical Consumer’s highest ethical rating, reserved for brands and products that go above and beyond in areas like environmental impact, workers’ rights, sustainability, and transparency. To receive this mark across our True Origin product range is a powerful endorsement of our ongoing commitment to fairness, justice, and sustainability in global trade – and of the way we do business here in the UK too. Ruairidh Fraser, researcher at Ethical Consumer, said “True Origin are clear ethical leaders in their field, so we're delighted to expand our Best Buy certification to cover all of their branded products. It’s rare to find a company of True Origin’s size which demonstrates such a comprehensive understanding of its social and environmental impact.” He continued “True Origin scored 100/100 for its approach to its supply chain, going above and beyond to ensure that workers’ rights are respected and their communities supported. From agriculture to food waste, they are rejecting greenwash and are instead focused on doing the right thing where it matters." From the fragrant Kilombero rice grown in the heart of Malawi to the rich, responsibly sourced Traidcraft Tea, from the fantastic relishes and spices from South Africa to the exotic Kenyan jams — every product in our portfolio stands for dignity, opportunity, and ethical excellence. We couldn’t have done it without our producer partners, staff and customers. Every time you choose True Origin or Traidcraft, you’re choosing a better world — and now you’ve got Ethical Consumer’s seal of approval to back that choice. 🛒 Explore the full Best Buy-approved range here . 📣 Spread the word and tag us when you share the news! Together, we’re changing trade for good. See Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label
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