Fairtrade Fortnight
“THERE IS A CHAIN ON EARTH THAT STARTS WHERE THE PRODUCERS ARE. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ONES WHO GET THE LEAST HELP, AND CARRY ALL OF THE BURDEN. IT’S NOT FAIR.”
What is Fairtrade and the Fairtrade premium?
You may have seen small stickers on your coffee, chocolate, bananas etc, notifying you that what you are buying is part of the Fairtrade organisation… but how many of you are aware of what this means? From the 21st of February to the 6th of March, it is Fairtrade fortnight! Fairtrade is an international, non-profit organisation that helps to create sustainable and empowered living and working conditions for small-scale farmers.
Businesses that sell produce, can pay a ‘Fairtrade premium’, this means that a base pay is given to the farmers despite fluctuation or inflation of the market on that specific product! Although it means companies may have to raise the price of their products, it allows the 1.8 million plus farmers, a Fairtrade all year round for their product.[1]
Many farmers have made the move to Fairtrade production due to the wage it provides, but it does so much more than that. Many are unaware of the workshops and education the organisation provides for farming communities. It allows them to learn organic and sustainable farming methods that allow them to produce a better quality product for longer without damaging soil health or using pesticides.
Here is a short video about coffee farmers in Columbia to demonstrate the impact of Fairtrade:
Why you should care:
Considering climate change, many communities and districts are struggling with extreme weather conditions, or natural disasters such as hurricanes or flooding that impacts the crops, they are reliant on for their livelihood. Farmers in these areas are having to adapt and overcome these challenges, but the root cause of being unable to tackle them is having enough money. “With the help of the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the Climate Academy was created to bring farmers together to share ways of adapting to climate change, to find new opportunities to earn money, and make their farms more able to withstand extreme events.”[2]
By Juliette Hughes - English Pathway, Marketing Director
Some companies in Bristol who are fairtrade verified / won awards:
· New Kings Coffee: https://newkingscoffee.co.uk/
· Ka:Fei: Colston Ave, Bristol BS1 4ST, United Kingdom
· Cotton Smiles: http://www.cottonsmiles.co.uk/
· Better Food: Whapping Warf, Bristol - BS1 / St Werburghs, Bristol - BS2 / Clifton, Bristol - BS8
· Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery: https://www.dianaporter.co.uk/
· Erica Fine Sharp Jewellery: https://www.ericasharpe.co.uk/
[1] Monitoring the Scope and Benefits of Fairtrade – twelfth edition – 2019 (pdf)
[2] https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/cop26-be-fair-with-your-climate-promise/farmers-and-the-climate-crisis/the-fairtrade-coffee-farmers-learning-to-live-with-climate-change/