Fair Trade 

What exactly is Fair Trade? Good question.

In summary, Fair Trade consists of trading principles that enable the producers, mostly farmers to receive fair prices, to enjoy fair working conditions, to engage in direct trade, to organize freely, to practice sustainable environmental farming practices and to develop their communities.

Fair Prices

Farmers, especially in third world countries, do not get compensated fairly for their produce. While there are many factors that contribute to this low-pay phenomenon, including political and social-economic factors, one of the primary reasons is the manner in which the trading of farm produce is organized.

In many countries, the farmers are so far removed from the sell and marketing of the final exportable product that their compensation is "last in line" in a line consisting of numerous middlemen, marketing organizations, and quassi-governmental organization. The end result is that farmers receive very low pay for their hard work.

Fair Trade organizations empower farmers to organize democratically in order to negotiate fair prices including floor prices for their produce.

Direct Trade

Buyers or importers who are Fair Trade certified seek to purchase directly from the farmers in order to eliminate the middle men. This direct trade provides the farmers with opportunities to interact directly with buyers and to collaborate on good farming and business practices.

Fair Labor Conditions

Fair Trade also seeks to improve the working conditions of farmers. In general, this achieved by empowering farmers to organize and to improve their working conditions. Fair Trade is strictly against any form of child labor.

Community Development and Environment Sutainability

The combination of fair prices, direct trade, freedom of organization empowers farmers to invest back in the communities and to learn and implement farming practices that are good for the environment.

Recognizing Fair Trade

The easiest way to know that the products you are buying are Fair Trade certified products is to look for the Fair Trade Logo on the product. The Fair Trade Logo indicates that the product has been certified by the Fair Trade Organization as a Fair Trade Product.

Fair Trade Oganizations

Who certifies that products are Fair Trade? In the U.S., the independent third party organization that certifies products is called TransFair USA. Transfair USA is a non-profit organization. Click here to learn more about the Transfair USA

TransFair USA is a member of the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO). FLO consists of 24 organizations worldwide that work to ensure Fair Trade for producers. FLO owns the FairTrade trademark. Click here to learn more about FLO