Franciscan Living Challenge

Precycle: Consider fair trade product purchases and 'empower producers'

Living Simply, Living Franciscan
by Mary Ellen Dunford, affiliate

As we continue to precycle and think before we buy, consider including fair trade products in your shopping routine. Fair trade is an organized social movement and a market-based trade model that provides marginalized producers in poor countries a greater proportion of the price consumers pay for products. This model of trade aims to improve the livelihoods of third world producers by giving them access to a market of consumers. It opens market opportunities for indigenous people. It provides protection from child exploitation. Fair trade agreements empower producers by assisting in the development of producer organizations and community co-ops. Fair trade pays producers better prices, engages them in long-term trading arrangements and offers them reasonable loans and financing.

In return producers agree to produce high-quality products and engage in environmentally sustainable practices. This model is a partnership that connects producers with consumer organizations and incorporates the cost of sustainable practices into the price of the product. Fair trade promotes social justice, healthy environmental practices and economic security for small businesses throughout the world. Fair trade items are becoming readily available. They include tea, coffee, chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, vanilla, spices, wine, sports balls, clothes, jewelry and crafts. More items are available from Green America’s Green Gift Guide at www.greenamerica.org/guides/springgifts/index.cfm. We can work together to grow fair trade in our lives and in our communities. Here are a few suggestions for bringing fair trade to your community and educating others about its impact on the poor.

1. Contact local coffee shops and restaurants and ask them to serve fair trade coffee and tea.
2. Contact local grocery stores to carry fair trade products like fresh fruit, coffee, tea and chocolate.
3. Choose a fair trade product for a fundraiser at your child’s school or at your church.