Fair Trade Explained

Fair Trade is exactly what the namesake tells us - it's a means to create commerce that benefits everyone fairly. Tea and coffee, for example, are harvested in countries where wages and standard of living are very different from ours. This is not the problem as that's just social-geography. The problem occurs in that these farmers rely on the dealings of the distributors who control the very nature of the social-status of all the workers. The wages are based not on cultivation or product, but on what this middle-person wants to give.

The FairTrade mark on certain coffee and teas is an indication that it has been approved by the Fairtrade foundation (an independent consumer label) in that certain minimum standards of health, environment, and wage-earnings are met. Crops and produce are bought at a cost which meets basic living standards as well as creates a means for the farmers to produce without harm to themselves or the environment. In essence, it's a way to deal directly with the producers rather than a negotiator who takes much of the profits.

Sustainability relates to everyone on a global level. The mere fact that we drink tea and coffee relates us to the ones who cultivate it so we are not as disassociated as we may believe. We do create an impact across the world, by the ability to purchase Fair Trade products, we deal more directly with the people who cultivate what we enjoy - and in turn, their improved livelihood promotes better and fresher harvests.

Sustainability is a balance of what we consume and what impact it has somewhere else. By purchasing Fair Trade, we eliminate a tremendous imbalance and receive what we actually paid for - a quality product form a people that are grateful and treated fairly.

We've compiled a small relevant listing of everything Fair Trade:

12 ways to shop Fair Trade:
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/whattoknow/12waystoshopfairtrade.cfm

Q&A
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/fairtradeqa.html
http://www.fairtrade.net/
http://www.equalexchange.com/fair-trade-faq

Blog & general information
http://www.jacqdecarlo.blogspot.com/

Kids and Fair Trade - a teacher's guide
http://manderson.home.igc.org/teacherguide/index.html