What is Fair Trade?
"A trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equality in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, disadvantaged producers and workers expecially in the South." (FINE, 1998)
Why is fair trade in chocolate important?
Chocolate from big companies like Hershey's, Nestle, Godiva and Kraft are putting children behind bars. Chocolate bars. These places you love so much obtain your favorite chocolate bar from factories whose cocoa is unmonitored. This means that they are not responsible for the treatment of the workers. In addition, farmers are forced to sell to brokers due to limited market access. In return, the brokers pay the farmers next to nothing. This results in illegal child labor. Thousands of children are trafficked and are forced to work long hours in dangerous work circumstances with no education. 70% of the world's cocoa comes from West Africa where there is forced child labor on cocoa farms. The chocolate you enjoy daily is coming from children who have never themselves tasted what they are coerced to make every day, in sacrifice for their own futures. With every bite, you are solidifying the cycle of poverty.
Chocolate from big companies like Hershey's, Nestle, Godiva and Kraft are putting children behind bars. Chocolate bars. These places you love so much obtain your favorite chocolate bar from factories whose cocoa is unmonitored. This means that they are not responsible for the treatment of the workers. In addition, farmers are forced to sell to brokers due to limited market access. In return, the brokers pay the farmers next to nothing. This results in illegal child labor. Thousands of children are trafficked and are forced to work long hours in dangerous work circumstances with no education. 70% of the world's cocoa comes from West Africa where there is forced child labor on cocoa farms. The chocolate you enjoy daily is coming from children who have never themselves tasted what they are coerced to make every day, in sacrifice for their own futures. With every bite, you are solidifying the cycle of poverty.
"It’s about choosing Fairtrade products that change lives, a simple way to support the people growing the things we love to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities" (Fairtrade America)
Top 10 reasons to choose Fair Trade:
1. fair pay and working conditions for vulnerable farmers and producers
2. encourages environmental sustainability
3. protects children
4. emporers marginalized workers
5. It is safe!
6. supports communities
7. trade farmers and artisians can rely on
8. connects you with other cultures
9. sustainable local economies
10. what you buy matters
What does the symbol mean?
“some see a parrot, others a green leaf, some see the black swirl at the center as a road leading to a brighter future. The most popular interpretation is to imagine the blue as sky, the green as grass, and the black dot and swirl at the center as a person holding one arm aloft. That figure represents the people at the heart of the Fairtrade system – it could be a farmer holding up their product, a shopper reaching to purchase, or a campaigner fighting for greater justice in international trade." (Fair Trade)
“some see a parrot, others a green leaf, some see the black swirl at the center as a road leading to a brighter future. The most popular interpretation is to imagine the blue as sky, the green as grass, and the black dot and swirl at the center as a person holding one arm aloft. That figure represents the people at the heart of the Fairtrade system – it could be a farmer holding up their product, a shopper reaching to purchase, or a campaigner fighting for greater justice in international trade." (Fair Trade)