What is Fair Trade? * A Fair Price for Products. For Fair Trade Certified products, this price is set by the Fair Trade Labeling Organization and attempts to cover the cost of production and provide a decent return to the farmer. For coffee, a floor price of $1.26 per pound is set. For other certified commodities, the price attempts to cover the cost of production and provide farmers with a decent standard of living.
* Investment in People and Communities. Many Fair Trade cooperatives reinvest their revenues into strengthening their business and their community through building health clinics, schools, starting scholarship funds, building housing and providing leadership training and women's programs.
* Environmental Sustainability. Fair Trade farmers respect the natural habitat and are encouraged to engage in sustainable production methods. Farmers implement integrated crop management and avoid the use of toxic agrochemicals for pest management. Nearly 85% of Fair Trade Certified coffee is also organic.
* Empowerment for Farmers. Fair Trade promotes farmer empowerment. Coffee producers belong to cooperatives or associations that are transparent and democratically controlled by their members. For banana growers and tea pickers working mostly on estates, Fair Trade provides revenue that is invested in a fund, managed and controlled by the farmers, to be used to further the interests of the community through providing education, access to health care etc.
* Empowerment for Women. Fair Trade encourages women's participation in and leadership of cooperatives. In addition, fair trade revenue is often invested in women's programs.
*Direct, Long Term Relationships. Importers of Fair Trade Certified products and other fairly traded goods endeavor to establish long-term stable relationships with producer groups.
Fair Trade Certification
Fair Trade Certification through TransFair USA is currently available for commodities such as coffee, tea, chocolate, bananas, and other fruits. TransFair USA is the only third party Fair Trade Certification agency in the US providing a reliable consumer guarantee that products carrying the Fair Trade Certified label were purchased according to the criteria set forth by the Fairtrade Labeling Organization, the international body that sets certification criteria.
To find Fair Trade Certified Products
Fair Trade Certified products including coffee, cocoa, tea, and fresh fruit are available in retail locations all across the country. To find a list of places that sell Fair Trade Certified products, visit www.transfairusa.org.
Co-op America’s National Green Pages also provides a listing of green and fair trade business across the country. Visit www.greenpages.org.
Information provided by Co-op America’s Fair Trade Program
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