Fair Trade
Fair trade certification is not just a logo on bags of coffee and sacks of sugar.
Products made following fair trade practices strive to redefine conventional international trade standards by ensuring that workers are fairly compensated and the earth is farmed in a sustainable way. By purchasing fair trade certified products, you are helping more than 800,000 farmers in 48 countries around the world to lead better lives.
Since the 1980s, the fair trade certification label has appeared on agricultural products such as coffee, tea, cocoa and sugar. Most recently, vanilla, rice and fresh fruit—including mangoes, bananas, grapes, and pineapples—have been added to the list of foods that qualify for fair trade certification.
In the Classroom
Geography and Social Studies. Bring in fair trade certified foods for students to sample, like chocolate and fruit, and take them on a tasting tour of countries that have benefited from fair trade. Describe how the foods are farmed and how fair trade certifications help to improve farmers´ lives and our earth. You can access fair trade lesson plans from Equal Exchange or Global Goods.
Fundraising. Consider incorporating fair trade into your efforts to raise money for school programs. Note cards, coffee and chocolate fundraising programs are available.
Resources
For more information on fair trade, visit www.globalexchange.org, www.fairtradefederation.org or www.equalexchange.com.
