What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade means an equitable and fair partnership between marketers, primarily in North America and Europe, and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world. A fair trade partnership works to provide low-income artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work.

Fair Trade in not the same as Free Trade

Fair Trade is an innovative, market-based approach to sustainable development. Fair Trade helps family farmers in developing countries to gain direct access to international markets, as well as to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By learning how to market their own harvests, Fair Trade farmers are able to bootstrap their own businesses and receive a fair price for their products. This leads to higher family living standards, thriving communities and more sustainable farming practices. Fair Trade empowers farming families to take care of themselves - without developing dependency on foreign aid.

• Direct, Long-Term Relationships
  Importers of Fair Trade products and other fairly traded goods endeavor to establish long-term stable relationships with producer groups.

• Creating opportunities for producers
  A strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development

• Transparency and accountability
  Transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners

• Capacity building
  Develop producers’ independence. Provide continuity, marketing advice and product development

• Fair / living wage
  Price agreed upon through dialogue and participation enabling production which is socially just and environmentally sound.

• Gender equity
  Women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are paid fairly.

• No forced child labor
  If children participate in the production of goods, it is not at the expense of…
  Their education
  Their well-being (safe conditions)
  Their security
  Their play time

• Environmental sustainability
  Sustainable environmental practices
  Responsible methods of production.
  Organic, shade grown