One of the most important reasons for buying fair trade is that it ensures that artists, farmers, and manufacturers in developing countries receive the profit from selling their goods. Currently, there are over 4,500 fair trade-certified goods available at retailers across the world and the aim is to ensure that the farmers and workers benefit from the profits and that their goods are not exploited. There are, however, a few items on the list that tend to stick out and are easy changes to make in your pantry or as a gift for a loved one.
Enjoy Treats Responsibly
Whether you’re dishing up a scoop of vanilla ice cream with some hot, fresh apple pie or you’re eating the brownie batter flavor straight from the tub, the weight of guilt should only be due to your potentially expanding waistline. Ben & Jerry’s is one of the first ice cream manufacturers to plunge head-first into fair trade. Another item that sits quite high on the sustainability list is chocolate or cocoa beans. Sourced from South America and parts of Africa, the cocoa bean is one of the reasons for the fair trade movement in the first place. Many cocoa bean farmers are not aware of what the end product is of their farming initiative, and those who do, can’t afford it.
Perk Up Your Morning
Coffee farmers in Colombia and other parts of the world have already started feeling the effects of fair trade, however, a recent request has been made to raise the price to $2 per pound in order to make it more sustainable for farmers. While the initial stages of fair trade are good for the farmer, more effort needs to go into selling the idea of the higher price to the consumer in order to ensure that farmers don’t abandon their crops. For serious coffee fanatics, that extra bit of money spent on a good cup of java is worth it, especially if it means the sustainability of future crops.
Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
There are two ways to promote fair trade in the cotton industry. The first is to provide the farmer with cotton seed at a fair trade price. The next is to ensure that cotton farmers get a fair price for their cotton when the harvest comes in. The cotton farming industry can be very volatile due to the sensitivity of the crops and the high quality of soil required.
Fair trade practices around the globe are constantly being monitored for improvement, as the movement is aimed at bettering the lives of the farmers and communities involved in these projects.
Guest post by Sally Collins
About the Author
Sally Collins is a professional freelance writer with many years of experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.
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