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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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