October is Fair Trade Month!

Products labeled Fair Trade are starting to become a more familiar sight to many consumers. What does fair trade mean and why does it matter? It means a fair wage and safe and healthy working environment for laborers, a fair product price to farmers and producers through direct trading whenever possible, no exploitation of children, betterment of the community and protection of the environment through sustainable growing and production methods. It means choosing a product that may cost a bit more, but whose value far outweighs that added cost. October is Fair Trade Month, and efforts are underway to educate shoppers and merchants alike about what it means to support fair trade initiatives and how such support benefits the global community.

There are a number of organizations worldwide that oversee fair trade certifications, and as an eco-consumer, you know independent third-party certifications are important to ensure that product labeling means what we expect it to mean. In the U.S., fruits, nuts, vegetables, wine, olive oils, coffee, tea, cocoa, herbs and spices are some of the products with the Fair Trade Certified mark from TransFair USA. As a member of Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO), TransFair USA oversees transactions between suppliers and US companies that offer certified products, and conducts inspections to ensure increased Fair Trade revenues are being used to improve living conditions in the communities in which they are being earned. The organization also provides education about fair trade initiatives while promoting fair trade products. Look for the Fair Trade Certified Mark on products in the US and Canada.

The World Fair Trade Organization launched its FTO mark in 2004 to identify fair trade organizations around the globe. This mark helps consumers identify registered groups that have standards in place regarding work conditions, child labor, fair wages and sustainability initiatives to protect the environment. Alternative trade organizations (ATOs) such as SERRV, which offers fair trade crafts and foods, and Ten Thousand Villages, which teams up with global artisans, both bring fair trade handicrafts to consumers by trading directly with producers at a fair price while providing them access to the world marketplace, helping to eliminate poverty. These groups also provide education for consumers while campaigning to bring these products into the mainstream.

You may have seen the Equal Exchange mark on coffee, which is the fastest growing product in the fair trade market. Equal Exchange also certifies tea, cocoa, sugar, bananas, chocolate bars and more, produced by farmer coops in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Founded in 1986, Equal Exchange, a worker owned coop based in Massachusetts, is the largest fair trade coffee company in the US. They support sustainable growing methods, guarantee a fair minimum price for their producers, and provide support for small farmer cooperatives that give back to their communities.

An internet search for “Fair Trade Goods” will reveal plenty of websites offering products with these certifications. One such site is World of Good from eBay, a marketplace for global artisans and producers and the merchants supporting them. Here you will find a plethora of fair trade goods and gifts including pottery, jewelry, clothing, bags, baskets and artwork, just to name a few. When shopping here, you can learn about the producer of the goods, the impact your purchase makes, fair trade certifications and more. The Fair Trade Federation is a trade organization that supports its members who are dedicated to creating positive change for producers by creating opportunities for them to sell their wares while ensuring prompt payment, respecting cultural identity and upholding the fair trade principles mentioned above. Their website provides resources to learn more and to connect consumers with retailers and retailers with producers, making this and other sites an essential tool for success.

All of us have the opportunity to make a difference, to right the wrongs of corporate globalization, by supporting local farmers and producers in third world countries who struggle to survive and work hard to do so responsibly. How much of a difference? FLO estimated in June of 2008 that over 7.5 million producers and their families were benefiting from infrastructure, technical assistance and community development projects funded by fair trade revenue. By voting with our dollars, by choosing to spend a bit more for products brought to the market at fair value, we send a message to the world. Our message? We want to help eradicate poverty, we want to support individuals who work hard to support themselves while considering the environment and their communities. We understand, we care, and we’re here to help you in your quest to build a better life for your families and your communities. After all, we’d want the same for our own.