Fair Trade
Supporting Fair Trade and African Merchants, Co-ops & Associations
Fair Trade ensures that these merchants (typically run by women), co-ops and associations receive fair compensation for the work involved in the various stages from harvest to cooking to cooling and traveling from Africa to the rest of the world. This is especially true, as larger companies are seeking to replace and outdo the work of the women; modern machinery can do in 3 days what it takes the women a month to do.
Fair Trade ensures that these merchants (typically run by women), co-ops and associations receive fair compensation for the work involved in the various stages from harvest to cooking to cooling and traveling from Africa to the rest of the world. This is especially true, as larger companies are seeking to replace and outdo the work of the women; modern machinery can do in 3 days what it takes the women a month to do.
Fair Trade Minimum prices are established so that these producers receive a Fair Trade Minimum Price and Fair Trade Premium. When you support Fair Trade, you help provide these benefits as stated by the Fair Trade Foundation, a global organization which advocates, supports and works for fairness and ethical standards for all workers:
- Fair Trade certification and pricing ensures a minimum "safety net" price and vital, economic stability.
- Fair Trade Premiums help farmers and workers re-invest in their business, their future and their families, often including education.
- Fair Trade Standards promote strength in numbers, organization, representation and the ability to negotiate.
- Fair Trade guards against the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children and marginalized men, women and children.
- Fair Trade works to protect the environment, whether East Africa, West Africa, the Rain Forest or other locations at risk around the world.
- Fair Trade Standards work to protect the natural environment "through strict rules on pesticides, water conservation, soil erosion, GMOs, biodiversity, energy use and reducing carbon footprint."
- Fair Trade Premiums are essential in "community development" and broader "economic, social and environmental change."
- Fair Trade enables small farmers, co-ops and associations the chance to compete in the global marketplace, which helps families, communities, nations and the world. This means that these workers, co-ops and associations can begin to ''use their collective voice to challenge the status quo and push for better national policies".