Fair Trade in the United States

Fair Trade in the United States

Recently Starbuck’s Coffee Company announced that by 2009, 100% of their espresso coffee will be Fair Trade. This is a major step for the Fair Trade movement across the globe.

Fair trade requires companies to pay sustainable prices, which must never fall below market price, to producers. The concept of fair trade has been around for an estimated 40 years, but the concept really didn’t take hold until the late 1980’s when a Dutch coffee maker created a label for fair trade coffee. In 1997, the Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) was established in Bonn, Germany. FLO united labeling initiatives under one umbrella to establish worldwide standards and certification.

Fair trade standards include social, economic, and environmental requirements. Producers of fair trade products must meet these requirements to become certified, plus progress requirements that encourage continuous development of farmers’ organizations and the situations of the worker’s. Fair trade premiums are monies paid on top of the minimum price. The premiums are then invested in social, environmental, and economic developmental projects. Some premiums are used to train producers in organic and sustainable techniques. Fair trade criteria require sustainable farming techniques and require higher prices paid to organic producers. Producers are encouraged to minimize the use of energy, especially if from non-renewable sources. Producers are required to work to protect the natural environment and make protection of the environment a part of farm management.

Buying fair trade supports smaller farms worldwide including Costa Rica (bananas and coffee) South Africa (grapes), India (cotton and tea), Mali (cotton), Uganda (tea and coffee), Sri Lanka (tea), and Ethiopia (coffee).

In the United States, Fair trade products can be found at these major retailers: Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Einstein Bagels, Dunkin’ Donuts, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Target, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods Markets. The products available include coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, fruit, rice, flowers, and wine. When buying in the United States, look for a black and white logo stating “Fair Trade Certified”. When buying in Europe, look for a green, blue and black label stating: FAIRTRADE” across the bottom.

For more information on Fair Trade, please visit the following links:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
http://www.transfairusa.org/

~Apryl Nichole