Today, May 9th, is World Fair Trade Day. I'm a supporter of purchasing fair trade products, I particularly try to buy coffee that is labeled as "fair trade certified". What is fair trade? Here's an excellent desciption from TransFair USA:
"Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:
Many coffee companies have fair trade coffees, and I've purchased products from several of them. I figure that if I'm going to drink cofee every day, which I do, then I could also use it as an opportunity to do some good; to allow my purchasing power to be a demonstration of what I value. For me, buying fair trade coffee began when I first started attending my local Unitarian Universalist (U.U.) fellowship. I was very pleased to discover that they actually sell coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate there! Yes, right in the lobby area there is a selection of Equal Exchange fair trade products. What a fantastic place! I picked up some of the informational literature about these products, and I discovered that my congregation is one of many that are participating in the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's (U.U.S.C.) Coffee Project. This also is part of a larger project called the Interfaith Coffee Program. My literature tells me, "thousands of places of worship have become involved in fair trade, helping small farmers build a better life for themselves and their families". Their partner in this project is Equal Exchange, a worker owned fair trade organization.
- Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
- Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
- Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
- Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.
- Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
- Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations."
Equal Exchange states: "Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.
Our Guiding Principles
- Trade directly with democratically organized small farmer cooperatives.
- Facilitate access to credit for producer organizations.
- Pay producers a guaranteed minimum price that provides a stable source of income as well as improved social services.
- Provide high quality food products.
- Support sustainable farming practices.
- Build a democratically-run cooperative workplace.
- Develop more environmentally-sound business practices."
Yes, yes, yes!!! I'd like a slice of social justice with my coffee, please. Would you like some too?
For further information on this topic - Here are some links:
Equal Exchange's Blog - Small Farmers Big Change http://smallfarmersbigchange.coop/
Interfaith Coffee Program: http://www.equalexchange.coop/interfaith
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee: http://www.uusc.org/
Unitarian Universalist Service Committe's (UUSC) Coffee Project: http://www.uusc.org/coffeeproject and http://www.equalexchange.com/uusc
World Fair Trade Organization http://www.wfto.com/Until I type again,
Kami
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