To most people Fair-trade means that people in poorer
countries who grow or make what we buy get a good price, a
decent wage and good working conditions. There are over 100
F. T. products, including tea, coffee, fruit juice,
bananas, mangoes and chocolate. The range grows daily. It
is possible to find certified shoes, toys and even
footballs. By buying these F.T goods, the consumer thinks
they can play a part in ensuring that the poor of the
undeveloped world aren't exploited.
Unfortunately concept and reality is not the same thing in
terms of Fair Trade. So if you want to make a purchase that
really helps someone that is a socially good thing to do
buy one of the charity supported coffees that support
orphans or homeless children. Unfortunately the logo is
often just sold without any proof the end farmers are
getting the extra money. Worse yet there is no requirement
that the farmer has to be poor - so huge land barons and
large companies can own the coffee farm and get Fair Trade
certified? So in most cases you are only helping the rich
get richer. Ever look at a map showing the location of
where the address is of the F. T. Company. Does it surprise
you that 90% of the companies certified are in the US?
Here is another thought. Most third world countries the
people are extremely poor. The richest people in third
world country own land. The richest of these rich own land
that produces income i.e. a farm or a mineral producing
tract of land. So in that third world country by far the
richest people are the ones who own a farm. True they may
not be rich by our standards but they are richer by far
than 95% of their fellow countrymen. So if you just focus
on the 5% of certified farmers who are located in a third
world in reality you are also helping the richest people in
that country - the people who need the help the least.
Lastly and most disturbing is the company that markets Fair
Trade. TransFair describes its logo fees as amounting to
just pennies on the pound. Those pennies add up. Last year,
it generated $1.89 million in licensing fees from companies
that used the logo. It also spent $1.7 million on salaries,
travel, conferences and publications for the 40-employee
organization. And they DID NOT donate one penny to poor
farmers - the guys they are marketing to help. Now is that
really Fair? Fair Trade - yea right!
So now why would you buy FT gourmet coffee? It's certainly
not because its helping the poor desolate farmer you are
picturing. Did I hear you suggest because the quality of
the coffee must be better? Unfortunately just because it
cost more does not mean it's even better. In fact the
opposite is true - most F. T coffees are a worse quality.
There are hundreds of coffee companies who could not sale
their coffee because it was a poor quality. But that coffee
company then got it certified Fair Trade and wow did the
sales go up. But again nothing was done to improve its
quality - all they have to do is show they are PAYING a
higher price for the same coffee and it gets Fair Trade
certified. So please check out that Fair Trade coffee
before you buy them. The logo means nothing - they are
easily bought. Look at their web site for PROJECTS and
PROGRAMS they have implemented. Don't just read that Fair
Trade means we are helping farmers - see what farmers they
are helping. If not you know it's just a "bought logo".
Then find you a social conscious coffee or charity coffee
and feel good that you are really helping people.So be
careful with your holiday purchase - please be sure your
gourmet coffee is more than a pretty wraping.
Isn't that cup of coffee more satisfying?
----------------------------------------------------
Boake Moore owns a great gourmet coffee company called
Mission Grounds http://www.missiongrounds.com - that
donates all its profits to helping homeless children and
orphans. Purchase your Holiday gift from Mission Grounds
and help a homeless child.
http://www.missiongrounds.com
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