Significance Of Fair Trade Practices

Nowadays, consumers are made aware of the significance of fair trade practices. This is a certification mark that is often found in different food items like fair trade coffee. These food products usually come from Latin America and are certified in this manner. They are sought out in the local and international markets where consumers are conscious about equitable trade practices. Places where import food is sold this kind of food products can be sought out.

What fair trade means

Many organizations work for the promotion of fair trade practices and certification. They work in cooperation with producers and developers in several developing countries in order to streamline many food production processes and pricing strategies. They also work with purchasers in order to help them become aware of the significance of looking at products like fair trade coffee.

History of fair trade

This concept began in the late eighties. At this time coffee prices started to fall and it led to an economic crisis in developing nations that marketed coffee. The fall in prices affected the small farmers and the Netherlands was the first country to ask for fair trade certification. They exposed how the workers in the Dutch colonies were being exploited. By the mid nineties this certification became popular and several international organizations came forth to set up standards as well as develop direct trade coffee or similar labels for encouraging fair trade practices.

What it means

The concept or labeling of fair trade does not only mean that the farmers will be paid in an equitable manner. It also involves cooperation with a certifying body that will ensure that suppliers are being treated right by the companies that source raw materials from them. Among the different crops, direct trade coffee is most common. Coffee and cacao are some of the certified crops across the world which was taken up as an attempt to stop the exploitation of the workers. Today the fair trade practices are being extended to different crops and food products.

When you are purchasing a fair trade certified product, you ensure that child labor or slave labor is not being practiced. That the workers are paid a living wage as per the country’s standards and employment is provided at equal levels among the workers and by the producers. Living conditions that are provided for the workers is healthy and all the educational and training needs of the workers are met. Nowadays environmentally friendly harvesting practices are also being encouraged. Hence, fair trade certification will reflect crops that are being grown in a sustainable manner by following eco friendly harvesting processes. Usually the certification involves spreading information about the people who grow the crops and the world they live in so that consumers across the world are aware of the same. That brings in more involvement of welfare organizations for the benefit of these communities.