Understanding Fair Trade Certification

[Flash]

Fair Trade Certification.

Across the world small farmers labor hard every year to bring products to market. Most earn a meager wage that barely suffices to keep their families clothed and fed. As an example, while we might be charged anywhere from $10 to $20 per pound for gourmet coffee, the farmers who cultivate it might be lucky to get 50 cents per pound on the open market. Even if a small farmer were able to bring several thousand pounds of high quality coffee to market, his annual take home pay would be at most a few thousand dollars. Many years this is not enough to cover the costs of farming, so the farmer falls into the risky trap of borrowing on credit to finance his families survival. It is hard to see the justice in this situation.

Until recently there was no systematic means to ensure these hard working people receive fair compensation for their difficult labor. Fair trade certification seeks to cure this problem by ensuring that farmers are paid a fair price for their product. Under a systematic review process, local organizations of small farmers who meet the requirements are certified with the Fair Trade designation. Fairtrade USA, SCS Certified, and Numi are a few of the certifying organizations. The practical results of certification for the small farmer is a better wage, which in turn translates into safer, more eco-friendly work practices, and a more optimistic sustainable future for the farm family.

In the U.S., the list of available Fair Trade certified products includes coffee, cocoa, sugar, rice, certain fruits like bananas, mangoes and pineapples, and spices like vanilla. Some, but not all, Fair Trade certified products carry the Organic certification as well. Points of origin for Fair Trade products include countries in Africa, Central America, and South America. There is an initiative to extend the Fair Trade certification process into the U.S. as well, although no products have been certified yet.

If you desire more high quality farm products produced in a eco-friendly fashion, want farming practices that are safe and worker friendly, and care that farmers are compensated fairly, buy Fair Trade certified products. Some of them may cost a bit more, but the investment in the world we all live in and share is worth it. For more information on Fair Trade practices and products, start with the following web sites: www.transfairusa.org, www.scscertified.com, and www.eco-labels.org.


written by Orion

[emily26505]

Is there a list anywhere with stores that sell fair trade? Or is there anyway to search for one near me? I know of one specific store in Harrisonburg, VA that sells fair trade crafts, but as far as grocery items go, I've never seen one.

[SBP]

I found this website that lists where you can buy Fair Trade items, broken down by product:

Co-op America: Fair Trade: Where to Buy

[kristen.c]

Helpful link! Thanks!