Why fair trade?
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.
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Who benefits from fair trade?
The Fair Trade system benefits over 800,000 farmers organized into cooperatives and unions in 48 countries. Fair Trade has helped farmers provide for their families' basic needs and invest in community development for technical assistance for building infrastructure, improved access to low or no-interest loans, better healthcare and evaluation.
However, these farmers are still selling most of their crop outside of the Fair Trade system because not enough companies are buying at Fair Trade prices.
Who else benefits? The Fair Trade system benefits consumers by:
Giving them the option of purchasing according to their principles and values
Empowering them to be a player in the solution to global trade inequities
Providing them with high quality products
Assuring them of the ethical source of their purchases
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