Fairtrade guarantees a fair deal for growers and producers in developing countries

Are you committed to justice for the world’s poorest people? Many developing countries are unable to compete in the global market because of unjust structures of trade. The Fairtrade logo guarantess that the growers and producers are paid a fair price for their product. It means it costs a little bit more – but it literally saves lives.

Fairtrade shows that trade can be a means out of poverty if the conditions are right. Seven million disadvantaged producers, workers and their families are benefiting from Fairtrade, but they and millions more still remain at the mercy of unfair international trade rules. That’s why we need to do more than buy Fairtrade products – we also need to campaign for trade justice.

The fact that Fairtrade has allowed producers to transform their lives, also shows that the current system of trade is not working.

If all trade were fair and benefited everyone equally, we wouldn’t need Fairtrade.

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This unfortunately isn’t the case. The rules and practices of international trade are biased in favour of rich countries and powerful companies, often to the cost of poor producers and the environment. Many farmers and workers in developing countries struggle to provide for their families. Often the price they get paid for their crop does not cover the cost of production.

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Fairtrade seeks to change this. It is not the solution to all poverty, but it can show one way that trade can work in favour of poor people and the environment.

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When you see the FAIRTRADE Mark, it means that it has been independently certified to make sure producers are getting a better deal from what they sell. It means that:

1)The producer organisations have received a fair and stable price for their products

2)In addition to the basic price, farmers and workers have the opportunity to improve their lives through an additional premium. They can use this money any way they like to improve their own organisations, or invest in their community. Farmers and workers decided democratically what these projects should be.

Fairtrade standards aim to protect and improve the environment, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. With the extra incomethat farmers receive from Fairtrade, they can also invest in their own environmental projects, such as recycling, tree planting, clean water programmes. Some farmers are also using money from Fairtrade to convert to organic farming methods.

4)Small farmers gain a stronger position in world markets. By working together farmers can be stronger in the market. Fairtrade supports small farmers in building up their own organisations, and helping them to compete in a vicious market place.

With Fairtrade, we can feel a closer link with people at the other end of the supply chain, who grow the products we buy.

When we choose Fairtrade, factors such as a fair and stable price creates change today – immediate change for the people who produced the product. It also is a part of a long term process of change as producers can invest in their businesses and communities through the social premium. Finally by choosing Fairtrade products, we can send out a signal to politicians and businesses about how we would like international trade to work better for poor people and the planet – a call for trade justice.

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FAIRTRADE IN OLDHAM

Fairtrade guarantees a fair deal for growers and producers in developing countries

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