Fair Trade Food and Beverage

What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is an organized social movement for the welfare of farmers in developing countries. The movement connects marginalized producers with consumers, without advantageous middlemen.  Fair Trade certification requires companies to pay a premium for goods from farmers in developing countries, and the extra income is invested in the local communities, health, education, and environmental stewardship. The intent is to work with producers and workers in order to help them move towards economic self-sufficiency and stability. In 2008, Fair trade certified sales amounted to approximately US $4.08 billion worldwide, a 22% year-to-year increase.

Here are some Fair Trade standards for small farms and hired labor situations:

• In small farming situations, there must be democratic decision making among the workers.  All producers must have a say in how Fair Trade Premiums are invested.
• In hired labor situations, workers must be paid what is regionally referred to as decent wages, and all health and safety standards must be met.  Child labor is prohibited.
• Fair Trade also encourages environmentally friendly, sustainable production. Organic farming is held to strict pesticide standards, which reduces chemical runoff, helps biodiversity and community health.

Fair Trade Goods

Fair Trade Coffee World coffee bean prices have plummeted in recent years.  Fair Trade coffee provides a viable solution to this problem by creating a price floor for coffee importers.	Fair Trade Tea Tea standards ensure farmers in Africa, Latin America, and Asia are getting a fair price for their products.	Fair Trade Rice This is a relatively new certification (2006), but it is rapidly growing as exotic rices like Basmati and Jasmine become more popular in the United States.

Fair Trade Chocolate Cocoa farming in the Ivory Coast and surrounding regions employs almost 300,000 child laborers.  Help stop abusive, forced child labor by holding major chocolate companies accountable and buying Fair Trade chocolate.	Fair Trade Vanilla Hurricanes, synthetic vanilla, and political turmoil have hindered vanilla bean farming in Madagascar. Lend a hand to vanilla producers and buy the real stuff, Fair Trade and organic.

Related Guides

Green Guide	Food and Beverage Guide	Green Home Guide

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
NL: Fair Trade Voedingsmiddelen en Drinken Shopgids