What is Fair Trade?

Instead of paying a farmer 2 cents for the cocoa beans that they cultivated with back breaking work, Fair Trade advocates for a market price wage that is fair to these often exploited farmers. “fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers”

Who Certifies Fair Trade Products?

Products can be certified “fair” by various organizations:
Fairtrade International (formerly called FLO/Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International), IMO,  Eco-Social, FairTrade USA.
There’s really no standardization, but all organizations’ certifications are based on the principle that the products produced and exported will not be based on exploitation.

What are some Fair Trade products I can purchase?

From Equal Exchange coffee to Honest Tea, more and more products are now adopting to the fair trade philosophy. Please click here to access FairTrade USA’s extensive list of fair trade products. But keep in mind – this is not all there is! Let us know if you know of an awesome fair trade product.

Fairtrade USA

Packaged Foods: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/ingredients
Beans and Grains: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/beans-grains
Cocoa: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/cocoa
Coffee: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/coffee
Honey: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/honey
Herbs and Spices: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/honey
Nuts and Oilseeds: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/nuts-oilseeds
Spirits: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/spirits
Sugar: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/sugar
Tea: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/tea
Wine: http://www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/wine

Where can I buy them?

Luckily for us, the Wellesley Emporium carries many fair trade products. You’ll find Equal Exchange chocolates, Ben and Jerry ice cream,, etc. Although not certified as fair trade, Chobani yogurts do try to source from local farmers and thus would fit the bill for sustainable foods. Sahale Snacks, Terra Chips adopts the same philosophy and works towards sustainable agriculture and locally grown foods. Naked Juice is also conscience about their ecological and social footprint with their fruit sourcing partnerships and LEED-bottling facilities.

Links:
http://www.equalexchange.coop/
http://www.benjerry.com/
http://chobani.com/
http://www.sahalesnacks.com/index.aspx
http://www.terrachips.com/about-terra-chips/social-responsibility
http://www.nakedjuice.com/our-purpose/#/sustain

A Closer Look:

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream:

The company source most of its ice creams ingredients: cocoa, vanilla, coffee, etc. through fair trade practices. The company has about 25 flavors of ice cream that are made from Fair Trade ingredients. Cookie Dough, anyone?