October 17, 2007 10:28

Glastonbury Festival splashes the cash to charity

Banana farmers benefit from 2007's mudfest

Glastonbury has donated £74,000 to Latin American banana farmers from money made at this year’s festival.

Banana Link received the money from the event’s good causes fund, and will help banana producers negotiate better with European supermarkets to get themselves a fairer deal by employing union leaders in Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.

"Farmers and farm workers, no matter where they are in the world, are entitled to a fair deal and a fair award for their skills and labours,” festival boss Michael Eavis told BBC News. “It is essential that farmers and farm workers stick together and I see this gift to Banana Link as an example of us working together towards these ends."

Around £2 million was raised for good causes at the 2007 festival, with Oxfam, WaterAid and Greenpeace among the main beneficiaries.