THE FAIRTRADE ORGANISATION exists to ensure a better deal for marginalised and disadvantaged third world producers. Set up by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement, the Foundation awards a consumer label, the FAIRTRADE Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of fair trade. The founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women's Institute. Fairtrade makes a real difference to people's lives:
It challenges the conventional model of trade, and offers a progressive alternative for a sustainable future.
It empowers consumers to take responsibility for the role they play when they buy products from the third world - results of recent surveys suggest the majority of people would prefer to buy FAIRTRADE Mark products.
As shoppers, many of us like to buy locally grown food from local farmers
in our farmers' market. Fair Trade products bring you as close as you can
get to the farmers working in developing countries who produce the the crops
we cannot grow in our climate: tea, coffee, chocolate etc.
The helpers on the Fair Trade stand here in the Farmers' Market Hall at Melton Mowbray Market are all dedicated volunteers.
Before a product can be awarded the Fairtrade mark it has to meet strict
criteria:
- No child or forced labour
- Have a programme of environmental sustainability
- Workers have decent wages, housing and health and safety standards
- Plantation/factory workers can participate in trade union activities
Small scale farmers are encouraged to participate in democratic organisation.
Fair Trade terms of trading include:
- Advance payment to avoid small producer organisations falling into debt
- A social premium paid to be used by the producer to improve living and working conditions
- A price paid that covers the cost of production
When we first heard about Fairtrade, many of us bought the goods, our
concience prompting us to try to do what was right, even though the goods we
bought were not up to the standard we would expect from commercial
businesses. The Fair Trade organisation now ensure that Fairtrade works both
ways: we get a fair product for a fair price. Our customers come back
regularly once they have tried our goods. Quality products bought directly
from farmers around the world at a fair price.
It's a partnership for a better future.