Watch video
Mountain Fruits picture gallery
which takes you on a journey through the winding roads and mountains of Northern Pakistan to Mountain Fruits' gardens of apricot, cherry, walnut and almond trees.
Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Urdu, Shina, Balti, Wakhi, Khowar, Burushaski
up to 39 in summer, well below 0 in winter
Sunni, Shia and Ismaili Islam, Christianity
1.2 million (Gilgit-Baltistan)
Agriculture,Tourism (Treking, Mountaineering)
K2 and Nanga Parbat Mountains, Polo.
Where:
Some of the languages:
Average Celsius:
Religions:
Population Size:
Main Economic Activity:
Best known for:
sourced from Mountain Fruits
Pakistani Fair Trade company Mountain Fruits has been active since 2000. The company evolved from a rural development programme of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and retains its founding mission to improve the incomes and opportunities for isolated farming communities in the area.
Mountain Fruits buys fruits and nuts from the Mountain Fruits Farmers Association whose membership involves more than 6000 farmers organised into more than 110 farming groups. The farmers sell apricots, apples, cherries, almonds and walnuts. The fruit and nut trees are irrigated by glacial meltwater from the Karakorum and Himalayan Mountains, creating wonderful flavoursome produce.
As well as pre-financing and making Fairtrade purchases from farmers, Mountain Fruits (MF) also train farmers in best farming and post harvest practice. MF also run 2 factories where they grade and further process the dried fruits and nuts.
Over the years, Fairtrade premiums have been spent by the Farmers Association on books for community schools, a new playground, water tanks, a generator, sewing machines, school fees for the poorest students and irrigation upgrades.
Since 2010, the Sainsburys Fair Development Fund administered by Comic Relief has helped Mountain Fruits construct a new nut processing factory, to distribute improved almond seedlings to farmer members, and to conduct farmer training workshops to improve harvest yields.
click image to enlarge
Fairtrade sun dried apricots are made from four different apricot varieties: Halman, Shekanda, Suryasum and Habi. Grown in the Karakoram and Himalayan Mountains and valleys of Northern Pakistan, they have a lovely sweet and tangy flavour.
Fairtrade and organic snack bar packed full of flavour made with 35% dried fruit and also with our delicious apricot kernels. Soft bite. No artificial additives, colourings or preservatives.
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Hidden inside every apricot stone is a kernel, deliciously nutritious as a ready to eat energy snack or scattered on salad. Apricot kernels are rich in mono and polyunsaturated fats and fibre and are widely eaten by the people of Northern Pakistan.
Fairtrade Organic snack bar packed full of flavour made with 35% dates and delicious Pakistani walnuts. Soft bite. No artificial additives, colourings or preservatives. Suitable for vegans.
For more information and photo credits,
please contact rachel@tropicalwholefoods.com
This makes a great breakfast with thick, Greek-style yoghurt. Keeps well in the fridge for up to a week.
Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Fairtrade Dried Fruit Compote
The chewy texture and nutty aroma of the biscuits are delectable. They are very easy to make and look super impressive. They are also gluten free
Amaretti Biscuits
cooking with Apricots and Apricot Kernels
Fairtrade Sun dried Apricots
Apricot & Raisin snack bar
Fairtrade Apricot Kernels
Date & Walnut snack bar
information
a short video
