by Prof. Andy Hira
Fair trade is a movement started by community activists in Western nations to create a partnership with the producers of products in developing nations. The main objective of fair trade is to provide consumers with the ability to make ethical choices. Fair trade products are certified as produced under safe working conditions and ensure that the producer receives a minimal amount of the final purchase price.
Fair trade often includes minimal prices for producers and often certification that the product is organic and environmentally friendly. Fair trade can work with any product, but for the moment, basic foods such as coffee and handicrafts are the most commonly available products. Fair trade has been endorsed by a number of organizations, including most recently the mayor of Vancouver, Larry Campbell.
How does fair trade work?
Mostly it works through a certification process. Certification involves the application by producer and farmer co-operatives to labeling organizations. Once certified, producers can use a fair trade label on their products. There are several large international certification organizations. The Transfair Canada branch does most of the certification for products coming into Canada. Both Transfair and the Fairtrade Labeling Organization use field staff to visit co-operatives and ensure compliance with fair trade standards. Fair trade retailers include both profit and non-profit organizations. In addition, there are some non-profit organizations, such as BC Central America Student Alliance and Co-Development Canada which do not have certification but which still meet fair trade guidelines.
Does fair trade cost more and who benefits?
Because fair trade products simply redistribute revenues so producers get more, there should be no difference between fair trade and regular products. However, in practice, fair trade products tend to compete as gourmet products, as they are of higher quality. Fair trade products may cost a few pennies more, but the difference to producers’ lives is significant. Oxfam, among others, has endorsed and documented the real differences that fair trade makes in small farmers’ lives. Fair trade farmers gain better revenue, more stable prices and supply outlets, greater access to education and health care, and more input into decision-making.
Where can I find fair trade products?
Although fair trade products are widely available in some European countries, fair trade products are not yet easily available in the Lower Mainland. However, the number of retail outlets is growing all the time as consumers become aware of fair trade. In the Vancouver area, Capers and IGA supermarkets carry fair trade coffee. In addition, some cafés have occasional fair trade coffee days and sell fair trade beans. For a complete list of retail outlets in the Lower Mainland, contact the Vancouver Fair Trade Coffee Network at vftcn@vcn.bc.ca
How can I help to promote fair trade products? Fair trade relies on word-of-mouth, so please tell your neighbours, community media, and local grocers and coffee shops about it. The Vancouver Fair Trade Coffee Network is a group of volunteers who actively promote fair trade products in the lower Mainland. With their help, Jared Ferrie and I conducted a survey in 2002. We found that consumers in the Lower Mainland overwhelmingly prefer fair trade. This backs up findings about ethical purchasing from surveys in the United States and Europe. So, the main problem with fair trade is that there is not enough of it. Please see their website for details on how to get involved. www.fairtradevancouver.ca
Andy Hira is a professor of political science and Latin American studies at SFU ahira@sfu.ca. He recently wrote Development Projects for a New Millennium with Trevor Parfitt, Praeger, 2004.
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