Farmers and plantation workers who produce crops like tea, coffee, cocoa and fruit have some of the lowest incomes in the world, are often exploited and are suffering the effects of climate change.
Fairtrade empowers farmers and workers to improve their living standards, the welfare of their community and our shared environment.
Fairtrade rallies a global community of millions – farmers and workers, supply chain partners, brands, retailers, shoppers, schools, government – to pay fair prices and uphold fair production standards and practices.
The Fairtrade Mark o
n a product guarantees that the producer has been paid a fair price plus a small extra premium for projects in the community. The Mark is an independent consumer label which shows that international standards have been reached. [more about the Mark….]
Beyond certification, Fairtrade is deepening its impact by delivering specialist programmes and expertise to support communities with additional training and worker support, whether that’s empowering women coffee farmers or responding to crises such as COVID-19
Simply by making a choice to buy Fairtrade products you can make a real difference to the lives of people across the world. Fairtrade is not charity or aid, it is simply about empowering communities to build their own successful futures. [more about Fairtrade …]
Producers
At the heart of the Fairtrade system are the farmers and workers who are members of Fairtrade certified producer organisations. Ranging in size from small co-operatives to large plantations and scattered over Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, they supply the UK market with Fairtrade certified products. [more about Farmers and Workers … ]
The Fairtrade Foundation has made some excellent short videos interviewing the farmers. Hear their stories – here
Fairtrade focusses particularly on empowering women to enable them to play a greater role in their co-operatives and earn a better income (more about the living incomes programme – here)
(see the video “She deserves Fairtrade” – here)
Products
A wide and increasing range of Fairtrade goods are available in a growing number of retail outlets in the area. (all the major supermarkets stock some and some local stores and catering outlets)
There are now well over 6,000 different products. From the familiar products like tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas, the range now extends to a wide variety of fresh fruit and juices, wine and nuts, spices, cakes and biscuits, flowers, gold, cotton products and even footballs.
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Page updated 13-07-2023