FairTrade

[Mickie31]

The Fair-trade concept has been around for 40 years, but didn’t get its formal label till the late 1980’s. Fair-trade is organized by a social movement and market based approach that aims to rid world poverty and promote sustainability. The organization aims to introduce fair prices as well as caring for social and environmental standards. Fair-trade concentrates on the exports from third world Countries this includes all organic goods from food to drink produce.

Fair-trade cares for underprivileged workers striving to make them more secure and self sufficient. Fair-trade also empowers workers to become managers of their own organizations playing an active role in the world wide market. Participants in the Fair-trade program include international religious development aid, Oxfam, Amnesty International and Caritas International.
Fair-trade has faced controversy and criticism from those in political authority. Certain economists have said that Fair-trade could be looked at as a type of subsidy. There are also those who challenge Fair-trade by saying they are not tackling the currency trading system.
I personally see Fair-trade as a good thing. If it can help workers get a fair pay then I am happy. I would rather eat my breakfast knowing it got to me fairly than thinking someone slaved in the heat of the sun and received a pittance for monetary reward. I would rather people were not exploited for my convenience. Fair-trade allows you to decide if you want workers to carry on receiving slave salary’s or if you want to stand up and make a difference. The joy with Fair-trade is that it allows an individual to make a difference rather than wondering what you can do about the 3rd world situation.

Does anyone have any thoughts about Fairtrade or any experiences they would like to add?

[mollyL]

Fair Trade is a wonderful thing that should be practiced globally but people ignorant of the concept take the short view that getting the lowest price possible is more important than workers and farmers getting a fair wage for their labour. We had not heard about it until about ten years ago when our favourite coffee house started to use Cafe Mam, which was being marketed fair trade. The house had all kinds of posters up explaining Fair Trade and how it affects the people who crow the coffee. I would like to see it on more items.

[jazzgrrl]

I try to buy fair trade products whenever possible. The local markets near my house carry Oxfam food products and there are also Oxfam stores in town. I find that these items have very affordable prices as well.

[justontime]

I am still working hard on buying locally produced food and products and that works well for me. I have tried to buy fair trade products and I it is fine for some things, but some of the products (e.g. chocolate) are not as nice as the ordinary ones and if I really don't like them I am not going to buy them.

[Green-Moo]

The only Fair Trade product which I buy regularly is bananas, and that is because it's often hard to find an organic brand locally.

[mollyL]

I have to agree that organic, fair-trade chocolate isn't as good as the mass-produced chocky is. Or am I just more used to the mass-produced stuff?

[SageMother]

Fair trade is a great concept but there are companies skirting it. Nobody talks about the oil we take from Ethiopia at a fraction of what we, meaning the USA, pay other oil rich nations.

There needs to be an organization that rates and reveals exactly how fair trade is being interpreted, and how it allows huge profit margins for companies that give the concept lip service.

[justontime]

Originally Posted by Green-Moo

The only Fair Trade product which I buy regularly is bananas, and that is because it's often hard to find an organic brand locally.

I buy fair trade bananas too because it is not possible to buy locally grown ones of any kind. I have reduced the amount of bananas I buy quite significantly because I try to buy local and to do without as much as I can that is not local. It leaves me with a dilemma, should I buy fair trade bananas (or whatever) and ignore the food miles or should I reduce the food miles and not support fair trade if it means that the product has to travel thousands of miles across the world?

[mollyL]

Originally Posted by SageMother

Fair trade is a great concept but there are companies skirting it. Nobody talks about the oil we take from Ethiopia at a fraction of what we, meaning the USA, pay other oil rich nations.

There needs to be an organization that rates and reveals exactly how fair trade is being interpreted, and how it allows huge profit margins for companies that give the concept lip service.

Sage, you are right again. We do need some kind of overseeing agency that keeps the manufacturers honest.
I had not heard of Ethiopia at all; I'll have to read up on that! Thanx

[emiglia]

Originally Posted by mollyL

I have to agree that organic, fair-trade chocolate isn't as good as the mass-produced chocky is. Or am I just more used to the mass-produced stuff?

I haven't tried fair-trade chocolate, but I know that I generally don't prefer the fair-trade coffee. I don't drink as much coffee as I used to, so I might be able to stand it now, but I like my coffee strong, strong, strong... and fair-trade just didn't cut it for me.