NEW YORK CITY, New York
South African farms growing rooibos, also known as red bush tea, recently earned the Rainforest Alliance certification for that crop.
In addition the farms are also the first to become Rainforest Alliance Certified in South Africa.
Farms in Zeekoevlei Grootport and Driefontein produce rooibos for Rooibos Ltd., whose American marketing is Herbal Teas International. The entire product line of Rainforest Alliance Certified products is now available in all major supermarkets throughout Europe and North America.
“Because rooibos is a new crop for the Rainforest Alliance certification program, and we have not worked in South Africa previously, this is a real milestone for us,” said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. “By reaching out to new territories, the Rainforest Alliance’s certification program continues its important growth and further ensures the protection of our fragile environment and the livelihoods of farmers around the globe.”
Rooibos is known for its health benefits. Plants are rich in minerals such as zinc, calcium, manganese and fluoride, It is known to relieve digestive illness and promote healthy skin, teeth and bones. It contains no added color or preservatives and is naturally caffeine free, low in tannin and won’t discolor teeth.
It has become popular with celebrities such as Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, who served rooibos-flavored ice cream at their wedding, along with Angelina Jolie, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Cindy Crawford.
Consumers can now be reassured that it is also healthy for the environment. Farms that achieve Rainforest Alliance certification have met the environmental, social and economic standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN).
The SAN standards cover ecosystem conservation, worker rights and safety, wildlife protection, water and soil conservation, agrochemical reduction, decent housing, and legal wages and contracts for workers.
“Increasingly, consumers from all over the world want to know that the products they purchase are produced in a way that supports people, profit and the planet, said Martin Bergh, managing director of Rooibos Ltd.
“Independent certification authorities such as the Rainforest Alliance reassure consumers that rooibos has been produced in a way that benefits the environment as well as the lives of the farmers and their workers,” he says.
“People who buy Rainforest Alliance Certified rooibos will know that the farmers who produced these products are not exploiting their laborers, and that they taking good care of their land and follow sound business principles to ensure a sustainable future.”
To learn more visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.