Fair Trade Roots
The Fair Trade movement has its roots in the late 1940’s when US churches began to sell handicrafts made by European refugees in the wake of World War II. Since that time, ‘alternative trade’ or Fair Trade organizations have sought to promote grassroots development through direct, equitable trade. The International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT, based in the Netherlands) defines Fair Trade as follows:
“Fairtrade 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, marginalised producers. Fairtrade organisations are engaged actively in supporting producres, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.”
The certification of commodities began in the Netherlands in 1988 in response to the plummeting price of coffee on the world market. The Max Havelaar Foundation, named after a fictional character who opposed the exploitation of coffee pickers in the Dutch colonies, was formed by Dutch visionaries.
TransFair USA was established in 1998 in order to bring fair trade certified products to mainstream consumers in the US. It is an independent, non-profit organization, which certifies & promotes fair trade products in this country. When you see TransFair USA’s certification label on a product, it is your guarantee that the following criteria were adhered to:
- The producers were paid a fair, or living wage, in the local context (in the case of coffee, this is $1.26/lb, or $1.41/lb for organic coffee)
- No exploitative child labor was involved
- Buyers and producers trade under direct long-term relationships (no exploitative middle merchants, long term relationships allow for stability)
- Producers have access to financial and technical assistance (when requested by producers, importers must provide credit or pre-harvest financing of up to 60% of each order, so this eliminates the reliance on local loan sharks)
- Equal employment opportunities are provided for all
- All aspects of trade and production are open to public accountability
- Working conditions are healthy & safe
- Sustainable production techniques are encouraged (such as organic farming)
Today, 20 countries have their own TransFair labeling initiatives, which operate with shared criteria under the umbrella of Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (or FLO).
If you require your items sooner, then please request an estimate for expedited shipping via e-mail: sarita@fair-trade-products.com or by phone: 949 202 6063
The Fair Trade Certified label is product specific, so it is not a guarantee that all of the products of a company adhere to Fair Trade criteria. The Fair Trade Federation label however, is a guarantee that the business is 100% Fair Trade.
