What Does it Mean to Have Fair Trade?

The shirt you just bought, the candy bar or bag of coffee beans – what do you know about who made them? Most Americans have no idea some of their purchases come from sweatshops or child labor or from farmers who have been exploited by companies with no concern for working conditions, the environment and fair wages. Fair Trade certification is on the rise, but needs the help of concerned consumers. What does it mean to have fair trade? No child labor has been used in production. There are safe working conditions. Workers receive a fair living wage. Goods are not made in sweatshop. There is no slave labor used. Fair trade producers are encouraged to use environmentally friendly practices that preserve the health of the soil, air, water and workers in the field. Many fair trade farmers/producers belong to cooperatives that are democratically controlled by their members. These cooperatives frequently help farmers to invest revenue in a community fund that is managed and controlled by the farmers themselves. These investments help strengthen their businesses and communities in many ways. Embracing fair trade is a way that we help achieve a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

Our consumer spending choices affect people’s lives around the world. The products we enjoy are often made in conditions that harm workers, communities and the environment. But increasingly consumers are demanding more humane, more environmentally sensitive products.

In today’s world economy, where profits rule and small-scale producers are left out of the bargaining process, farmers, craft producers, and other workers are often left without resources or hope for their future. Fair Trade helps exploited producers escape from this cycle and gives them a way to maintain their traditional lifestyles with dignity.

Fair Trade products can be identified by the “Fair Trade Certified” label or the Fair Trade Federation logo on a product. That is affiliated with USA places the “Fair Trade Certified” label on coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas and other fruits are sold. The Fair Trade Federation is an association of businesses that follow fair trade principles across the board, so its presence on a product means that a company supports the highest level of commitment to fair trade -100%.

The Fair Trade system benefits over 800,000 farmers organized into cooperatives and unions in 48 countries.

Learn more about Fair Trade from these websites:

A detailed description of the Fair Trade movement at Wikipedia.

Fair Trade Federation – the group that promotes North American organizations fully committed to Fair Trade.

Fair Trade USA – the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.

Fair Trade Resource Network – an information hub designed to grow the fair trade movement

Where to find Fair Trade in Escondido

These are just a few of the locations in Escondido where Fair Trade items are available. When you shop ask for Fair Trade Certified products, and look for the Fair Trade Certified logo. (This is a list compiled by volunteers. We assume there are omissions. Please help make it more complete by sending your local Fair Trade information to communications@escondidodems.org.)

Henry’s Market:

• Green & Black’s—chocolate bars

• Maya Gold (dark chocolate)

• Sunspire semi-sweet chocolate chips

• Pamela’s Products, Organic cookies

• Santa Cruz Organics- chocolate syrup

• TEAS: several brands and selections - Numi, Traditional Medicinals

• COFFEE: Aztec Select, Organic Coffee Co.; Mediterranean Herbal Coffee, others

Trader Joe’s:

Trader Joe’s CHOCOLATE & HONEY

• Valrhona-dark chocolate bars

• Trader Joe’s Swiss milk and dark chocolatebars

• Trader Joe’s Organ Raw Honey

• Trader Joe’s Conacado Organic Fair TradeCocoa

Trader Joe’s COFFEE

• Breakfast Blend

• Organic French Roast, Original & Decaf

• Original Bolivian Blend

• Original Fine Country Expresso Blend

• Original Shade Grown Ethiopian MediumDark Roast

• Organic Wake Up Blend

• Organic Summatra Medium Dark Roast

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream at many locations

• Coffee, chocolate and vanilla flavors are Fair Traded now. All flavors are to be Fair-Traded by 2013

Costco:

Costco Fair Trade Coffee

• Kirkland Signature House Blend (roasted by Starbucks) in regular and decaf

Cost Plus World Market:

• World Market brands tea—some

• World Market Costa Rican Tarragu coffee

• Guatemalan Estate coffee

• Starbucks: Café Estima Blend

Coco’s Bakery Restaurant offers organic Premium coffee that is fair trade certified– in southern California only. They may expand their offering if successful.

Porters Coffee House – 122 S. Kalmia

• Organic Coffees, Tea & Food; all coffees Fair Trade Certified

Online, you may order from Equal Exchange Fair Trade at:

shop.equalexchange.com or call them at 774-776-7366