What is Fair Trade?
What is Fair Trade, and what does it mean
for coffee to be Fair Trade CertifiedTM?
Firstly, Fair Trade is not a brand name - it is a qualifier, just like "Organic" or "Shade Grown".
The Fair Trade Certified label guarantees that a product was grown and traded in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. When you buy Fair Trade Certified products you directly support the prosperity of families, communities, and the earth.
Many of the foods we enjoy every day are grown by people who struggle to keep food on their own tables. Volatile prices and power imbalances make it tough for farmers and farm workers to stay afloat. They can end up in a cycle of poverty and debt, unable to support their families or keep their kids in school.
Fair trade is a market-based solution to this problem, driven by consumer demand for products that were produced without harming people or the environment.
How does Fair Trade help?
Fair Trade empowers farmers and farm workers to be self-reliant, enabling them to invest in their farms and communities, protect the environment, and develop business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Below is a detailed explanation of Fair Trade that was taken directly from TransFair USA.