Outlook

Book Launched by FAO (United Nations) Mentions Last Forest as a Case Study

Book Launched by FAO (United Nations) Mentions Last Forest as a Case Study

On September 12, 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published Labelling and Certification Schemes for Indigenous Peoples’ Foods, a first-of-its-kind review that spotlighted Keystone Foundation and Last Forest Enterprises. The publication looked into the role and potential of labelling and certification in marketing traditional foods, highlighting schemes that were designed by, with and for indigenous communities. Socio-economic and environmental gains achieved and ethics promoted by such ventures were lauded. In particular, territorial labels, geographical indications (GI), and participatory guarantee schemes (PGS) were some of the schemes reviewed. Eleven case studies handpicked from across the global...

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Thoughts from within the Green Shop with Kokila

Thoughts from within the Green Shop with Kokila

The Green Shop – where products meet people. One crucial part of Last Forest’s mission is connecting communities and markets and thus providing a market place for indigenous, organic and fair-trade produce. The three pillars of this market place are the online shop, wholesale in stores all over the country and the three Green Shops in the Nilgiris. The Green Shops are located in Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri and run by Last Forest itself. There you can buy the whole range of Last Forest products as well as other products from all over India which have a story to be...

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My Farm, My Responsibility - PGS in the Nilgiris

My Farm, My Responsibility - PGS in the Nilgiris

Last Forest is a company on a journey - the journey for a more sustainable world. One major step on their way is the marketing of organic products. Many of these are certified with a Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) label, so that you can recognise them easily. But what does PGS actually mean? How does it look in practice and what makes these products special? Jestin, the CEO of Aadhimalai Producer Co-Operative, Last Forest’s main supplier which has been procuring from PGS organic farmers for many years now, has shared his thoughts.  “PGS certification was started in the Nilgiris by...

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Thoughts from Within with Monica

Thoughts from Within with Monica

“Last Forest is like a tree giving good colourful fruits for everyone.” This is the way Monica describes the social enterprise. She is the company’s accountant even before Last Forest was registered as a company in 2010 - so technically the one who keeps an eye on the fruits to ensure that everybody gets a bite and Last Forest continues to thrive. Since the company started, she has been thoroughly managing every accounts related issue, from wholesale to Green Shop accounts. Being such an experienced member of the team, she has many stories to tell and decided to share her...

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