BENEFITS OF
FAIR TRADE
Doña Sofia and her family,
members of the PRODECOOP cooperative, Nicaragua.
Photo courtesy of Alberto Vargas and Transfair USA
FAIR TRADE IS A SOLUTION!
With Fair Trade income we have made improvements in our community. Before we slept on the ground and did not have basic amenities. Now some of us have floors, some furniture, sanitary services and potable water. If we sold all of our production at Fair Trade prices, our dreams would come true.
Alexa Marin Colindres, member PRODECOOP Coffee Cooperative, Nicaragua
From www.transfairusa.org
Fair Trade guarantees a price that ensures farmers can support their families. For coffee, that’s at least $1.26 per pound; for chocolate at least eighty cents per pound. Certified organic coffee and chocolate are guaranteed an even higher price.
The Fair Trade price means that farmers can feed their families and children can go to school.
“Before Fair Trade, we just had tortillas and salt to eat. Now, we have tortillas and salt and beans and are able to send our kids to school” Salvadoran coffee worker."
Fair trade protects the environment. With a Fair Trade price, farmers can afford to keep their land and to practice sustainable agriculture, reducing or eliminating pesticides, increasing composting, and maintaining bio-diversity.
“The value added from Fair Trade is not just about protecting the ecosystem and our community. Thanks to Fair Trade one of my children in now in medical school and the other is in midwifery school.” Mohammed Salim, member PPKGO, Indonesian Coffee Coop
Fair Trade supports democracy. Only democratically organized cooperatives can be certified Fair Trade. That means that the farmers themselves make decisions about how profits will be sued. In some communities that has meant building schools, providing potable water, improving facilities or building housing.
Fair Trade supports communities. Because Fair Trade deals with organized workers (often in cooperatives) the entire community benefits from the Fair Trade relationship. The cooperatives reinvest in community and agricultural infrastructure.
“Without Fair Trade, nobody would be able to buy sewing machines, gas cookers and other things that improve our daily lives.”
M. Wimalawathy, Tea Cooperative worker, Sri Lanka
Fair Trade promotes education. Even the poorest farmers would rather that their children go to school instead of working in the fields. Trade provides enough income so that farmers can send their children to school.
“The premiums we receive from fair trade help us send our children to school, and provide food and medicines for our families."
Carlos Reynoso, Assistant General Manager of Manos Campesinas
Fair Trade provides a sustainable model of international trade based on economic justice.
“Fair Trade farmers have enough income to keep working in their fields and feed and clothe their families. You can see the difference with non-Fair Trade farmers: They have to abandon their production, they cannot maintain their coffee trees, and there is significant migration to Mexico City. The major benefit of Fair Trade here is the virtual elimination of migration.”
Jeronimos Bollen, Manager Manos Campesinas Cooperative, Guatemala
Last Updated:09/27/2006
© New York
State Labor-Religion Coalition
