Fair Trade

Jump to: Fair Trade Labelling schemes - Fair Trade without a label - Farmers Markets

Introduction

Q: What is Fair Trade ?
A: Simple: When trading takes place with love and respect for the lives of all of the people involved then fairness follows.

Q: How do you make trade "Fair"?
A: There is no simple answer to this question, but start by buying products with the Fairtrade label, and from Fair Trade Shops, and the rest will follow.

Briefly:

  • Fair trade is about achieving equity all the way along the supply chain from the Farmer to the consumer. However, Fair Trade is also geared to give protection to the poor farmer and to provide extra help (via the Fairtrade premium) with developing the local community.
  • Such a trading system is laudable but difficult to achieve. In spite of the difficulties much progress has been made since the movement began in the 1970s with inspiration from Oxfam, Christian Aid, and Tearfund. The big players are now Traidcraft, Cafedirect, and the Co-operative Movement.
  • Much progress has also been enabled by effective organisations such as the Fairtrade Foundation, WFTO, EFTA, NEWS and BAFTS. (See the links page for more online information).
  • The Fairtrade Foundation labelling schemes satisfy the need for consumers to have a simple guarantee of the Fairness of the related trade.

Fair Trade Labelling Schemes

The Fairtrade Foundation has schemes for the following categories and products:

  • Beer
  • Coffee - instant and ground
  • Chocolate / Cocoa
  • Chutneys
  • Fresh Fruit (Bananas, Apples, Oranges, Mangoes, Pineapples)
  • Fruit Juice
  • Honey
  • Nuts
  • Olives, Olive Oil
  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Snacks
  • Spices
  • Sugar
  • Tea
  • Wine
  • Roses
  • Footballs

All of the above products are widely available in supermarkets, health food shops and Fair Trade shops.

Fair Trade without a label

The main sources of Fair Trade products outside the established schemes are handled by Traidcraft plc. Products include some coffees and teas, raisins and other dried fruits, nuts, rice, pasta, and wine.
The Fair Trade red and white wines are available by mail order from Traidcraft, or off-the-shelf in Co-op shops.

Farmers Markets

UK farm produce can now be bought at Farmers Markets in many parts of the country. The produce is locally grown (within a few miles of the market) and is frequently organic certified. We encourage you to visit a farmers market and see the variety and quality.