Fair Trade

WHY FAIR TRADE?

Coffee is the world's second most-traded commodity after oil, with annual sales worth nearly $80 billion. And yet coffee producers get only about 14.5% of that total, or $5.5 billion. Nearly 25 million farmers worldwide depend on growing coffee for their livelihood, but due to the recent decline in coffee prices (at their lowest levels in 100 years) millions of these families are unable to afford food, shelter, healthcare, schooling and other necessities. More than just a catch-phrase, the fair trade system is designed to avoid exploitation of farmers by guaranteeing above commodity prices and environmental protections. Under this system, small coffee growers organized into collectives, receive a fair price for their crops. Farmers typically receive less than half the market rate for their coffee? The current international price of coffee is about 60 cents per pound ? for a product that retails for as much as $10 per pound. Not only does the fair trade system improve the economic situation for farmers, it also prohibits forced or exploitative child labor, provides credit to farmers at low rates, promotes sustainable farming methods, encourages long-term business relationships and organizes farmers in cooperatives. Other products that can be certified as fair trade include cocoa, bananas, mangoes, sugar and handcrafted items. Use your purchasing power to support fair trade!

For more information, visit:

Global Exchange - www.globalexchange.org
Transfair USA - www.transfairusa.org
Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International - www.fairtrade.net

To purchase fair trade handicrafts locally:
Ten Thousand Villages - www.tenthousandvillages.com.