PODIE, the People’s Organisation for Development Imports and Export, is a small scale operation which started in Negombo, north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1974.PODIE is a certified Fair Trade company and a member of IFAT ( International Fair Trade Association. )

PODIE’s aim is to offer new work opportunities to young women and their families and to build a strong fair trade system in Sri Lanka. They make contact with local small scale spice producers aiming to cut out the exploitation of middlemen. PODIE also aims to provide quality products for the export market.

There are now more than 1,500 spice producing farmer families who supply their products to PODIE, and are paid more than the prevailing market price for their produce. There are also approx. 57 women working at the PODIE spice processing unit in Negombo.