Fair Trade

ACES Funk Library contains many volumes on international trade. One subset of this which pertains specifically to agriculture is Fair Trade. According to The Fair Trade Revolution, “Fairtrade standards aim to strengthen the position of small-scale farmers and workers in developing countries.” As such, Fair Trade operates at the intersection of human rights and agriculture. The items displayed here provide a glimpse into Fair Trade movement.

Nurjahan and Renu Begum gather water hyacinths from a canal in the Agailjara region, in southern Bangladesh.

“For small-scale producers and their cooperatives, certification means:• guaranteed minimum prices covering

production costs• development premiums• pre-financing on demand• healthy environmental management. For the consumer:• it gives the product legitimacy and• indicates its true socioeconomic value” (St. Pierre, p. 46).

FAIR TRADE CERTIFICATION

“Today, there are 19 national fair trade labelling initiatives under the umbrella of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), founded in 1997” (St. Pierre, p. 46).

Fair trade: a human journey.By Éric St-Pierre.Fredericton, N.B: Goose Lane Editions, 2012.382.1 St1t:E [ACES]

Ethical Sourcing in the Global Food System.By Stephanie Barrientos and Catherine Dolan.Sterling, VA: Earthscan, 2006.174.9664 Et371 [ACES]

Ethical Sourcing in the Global Food System.By Stephanie Barrientos and Catherine Dolan.Sterling, VA: Earthscan, 2006.174.9664 Et371 [ACES]

Harvest time in Makaibari

Sujata, a picking supervisor at Makaibari

Fair trade: a human journey.By Éric St-Pierre.Fredericton, N.B: Goose Lane Editions, 2012.382.1 St1t:E [ACES]

Tea“As for fair trade tea, we are seeing a recent explosion in demand – a growth of 112% between 2007 and 2008 – mainly because of a commitment to purchase made by one of the biggest food chains in the United Kingdom at the end of 2007. This tripled sales all at once, resulting in a 10% market share for fair trade teas among the English, who are key consumers” (St. Pierre, p. 86).

Zénabou and other producers in the Tabou group kneading the shea kernel paste.

Fair trade: a human journey.By Éric St-Pierre.Fredericton, N.B: Goose Lane Editions, 2012.382.1 St1t:E [ACES]

Main Producing CountriesNigeriaMaliBurkina FasoGhanaCôte d’Ivoire

53%23%9%8%4%

SHEA“On the edge of the Sub-Saharan region, a wide swath of the African continent depends on the generosity of a tall sturdy tree. Both a defense against the encroaching desert and resource for rural populations from Guinea-Bissau to Ethiopia, the shea tree has something of the sacred about it” (St. Pierre, p. 168).

Fair trade: a human journey.By Éric St-Pierre.Fredericton, N.B: Goose Lane Editions, 2012.382.1 St1t:E [ACES]

“’Our union’s strength lies in our members’ similarity; they are all peasant women. Our president doesn’t drive around in an air-conditioned 4x4; she rides a bike and kneads her butter like everyone else,’ explains Abou, the manager of the Union de Léo. ‘We currently have 3,000 women producers and more than 1,000 more are waiting to join the Union’” (St. Pierre, p. 174).“Solidarity with

African women has a direct impact on the living standards of the whole family” (St. Pierre, p. 174).

In the village of Siby, Nantene Konaté gathers her shea nuts before dew falls. Well dried, they will keep for several months.

FEMALE SOLIDARITY

Main reasons to buy Fair Trade productsReason

% of respondents

• A fair price to farmers in developing countries

• Safe and honest production processes• Retention of dignity and autonomy

635652

Sustainable Consumption, Ecology, and Fair Trade.By Edwin Zaccaï.London: Routledge, 2007.359.4701 Su827 [ACES]

For more books and resources about Fair Trade, visit the Funk Library!