Fair Trade
is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.

Fair Trade organizations have a clear commitment to Fair Trade as the principal core of their mission. They, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.

Fair Trade is more than just trading: it proves that greater justice in world trade is possible. It highlights the need for change in the rules and practice of conventional trade and shows how a successful business can also put people first.

 

Raymond Kimaro (Chairman of the African Fair Trade Network AFN and General Manager of Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union, one of Tanzania’s largest Fairtrade Certified coffee cooperatives) said in an interview in November 2007:
 


As long as there are disadvantaged producers through unfair trading relations I am confident that Fair Trade will continue to be relevant. This coincides well with the AFN vision of a world free from poverty which has afflicted our people through centuries of unbalanced world trade relations.

The major challenge is poverty in its vicious cycle. Our people continue to lose out for as long as the fair trade markets remain small. This in turn poses a real serious challenge as the capacity to invest remains low. So it is crucial to grow the Fairtrade market in order for producers to benefit more.

On the other hand, the participation of producers in setting Fairtrade standards needs to be improved so that such standards are made in the local African context. African producers, like their counterparts in other countries of the third world are not yet participating effectively in decision making at international Fairtrade bodies. To increase producer participation at that level is therefore critical.

  


Stories of 3 more Fairtrade producers

Further details of Fairtrade principles and goals

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The FAIRTRADE Mark

is an independent consumer label which appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal.

For a product to display the FAIRTRADE Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards. These standards are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). The Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member of FLO.

Producer organisations that supply Fairtrade products are inspected and certified by FLO. They receive a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production and an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.

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‘The fields of the poor may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it all away ....' Proverbs 13:23