Marks & Spencer has switched all of its loose bananas to organic and plans to make all of its bagged bananas Fairtrade by the end of the summer.

The company is the first major retailer to make all of its loose bananas Soil Association accredited. By the end of year M&S will

no longer sell other bananas.

The organic fruit is priced at 99p/kg, compared to 79p for non-organic bananas before the switchover.

The loose bananas are from the Dominican Republic, and all the Fairtrade bagged ones will come from Caribbean producers. Both types are being sea freighted.

M&S fruit specialist Richard Brown said: "We are committed to setting new standards in ethical trading.

"This gives our customers the opportunity to make an ethical choice with a staple part of their diet."

A spokeswoman for M&S said the switchover had been planned for over a year.

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