What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is the most recognized and trusted sustainability label working to make trade fairer for the people who grow our food.
For more than three decades, Fairtrade has been making an impact on the way trade works. We believe that every farmer and worker should have access to a better way of doing business, and a better way of living. Because when you treat farmers and workers fairly, everyone benefits.
A product with the FAIRTRADE Mark means farmers, workers and businesses have met internationally agreed standards which have been independently audited and certified.
Left: Lidia Tello (l), Aide Niño (c) and Iris Merino (r), farmers and members of the Norandino agrarian cooperative work in the sugar cane plots in Montero, Peru.
Choosing Fairtrade makes a difference
Check out this video to find answers to frequently asked questions and discover why choosing Fairtrade makes a difference.
FAQs
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The Fairtrade Minimum Price is the minimum that farmers’ organizations/producers are paid when selling their products through Fairtrade.
It aims to cover the average costs of sustainably producing their crop and acts as a safety net when market prices drop. Producers can get the market price when this is higher and can always negotiate for more.
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The Fairtrade Premium is an extra sum of money (paid on top of the selling price) that farmers or workers invest in projects of their choice. They decide together how to spend the Fairtrade Premium to reach their goals, such as improving their farming, businesses, or health and education in their community.
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The Fairtrade Standards are the requirements that producers and the businesses who buy their goods have to meet for a product to be Fairtrade certified.
The Standards ensure fairer terms of trade between farmers and buyers, protect workers’ rights, and provide the framework for producers to build thriving farms and organizations.
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Fairtrade is unique in our approach to supporting producer-led change in developing countries. This is because Fairtrade understands that producers are best placed to take into account the specific challenges facing their farms, and decide on the most effective investments for their businesses and communities.
Fairtrade International and the producer networks offer advice, trainings and financial and other support to help producers meet Fairtrade Standards and maintain their certifications.
Fairtrade offers direct support to farmers and workers through a network of field staff who are specialists in the Fairtrade Standards, certification processes and requirements. They provide advisory services to farmers and workers, as well as training and information to help them comply with the Fairtrade Standards, strengthen their business capacities, and deepen Fairtrade impact.
Enabling farmers and workers to become better organized is the basis for all producer support services. Additional programmes of support in thematic areas – such as climate change, gender and workers’ rights – enable producers to strengthen their organizations and meet the specific needs of their members. Other programmes help producers to tackle human rights issues in their communities, such as child labour or to improve their financial and HR management. We aim to deepen these programmes further going forward.
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Visit our main website at fairtrade.ca