People’s Organization for Development Imports & Exports (PODIE) is a small-scale Fair-Trade organization which began in 1974 and established in 1985, in Negombo Sri Lanka. PODIE’S primary goal is to protect the small-scale producers and consumers from the middlemen, and provide quality goods especially for the export market. We began to export mats and consequently established a fund from the profit, consequently began exporting handicrafts, prawn powder, etcetera. Meanwhile, we started processing spices with the aid of our buyers and established a stall for handicrafts and spices in Negombo town for tourists.

PODIE works with over two thousand small-scale organic farmers and producer groups affiliated to the organization who are located in seven out of nine provinces in Sri Lanka. We have taken initiative to encourage our farmer community to go organic and thereby offering them a premium price for their organic produce. In addition to providing a good market for their produce, we provide assistance in developing their infrastructure, and also help them to enhance the quality of their produce, increase their productivity to suit the international markets.

With over three-four decades in the spice industry, we mostly export to Fair Trade Organisations based in European & Scandinavian countries, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Canada, and Unites States of America. We are a guaranteed-true World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) producer and active members in WFTO – Asia and WFTO – Sri Lanka.

Our board of Directors consists farmers, workers, staff and social workers. Also, one Directress represent the board. PODIE has over fifty women employees in the production units who are employed adhering to standards set by the WFTO working environmental conditions and Sri Lankan government
regulations.