Green Cotton

October is Fair Trade month, a time to celebrate fair wages and healthy, safe working conditions for artisans and farmers around the world. This campaign, sponsored by TransFair USA, the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, is about letting your friends, family and coworkers know what a big difference Fair Trade makes in the lives of small farmers and farm workers throughout the world. So come and join in on the fun this month and add a few Fair trade purchases to your everyday shopping list.

What better month for Fair Trade Month to be, too because Halloween is just around the corner and we all know what that means: lots of chocolate. Chocolate is one of the most popular fair trade products available on the market, so what better opportunity that this to exercise your Fair Trade convictions and buy Fair Trade chocolate. (Stay tuned for our Halloween post on buying Fair Trade chocolate coming soon!).

What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price. Fair Trade principles include:
-    Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
-    Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
-    With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
-    Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.
-    Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
-    Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.
It is all about encourage environmentally sustainable business practices and prohibits the abuse of child slave labor.

What products are Fair Trade?

You can find almost everything. From sugar to tea, herbs, spices, coffee, grains, cotton, nuts, honey, cocoa, fruits and vegetables…

What is the impact of Fair Trade?

For Luis Adauto de Oliveira , Coopfam in Minas Gerais, Brazil. (Photo above) .
“Fair Trade has given us the ability to grow coffee the way it should be grown – sustainably, organically and with great concern for quality.  Our families are fed, our children are in school, and now we can tend to the coffee and the environment.”

So now what can we do to support Fair Trade?
-    Look for the Fair Trade Certified Label, and buy Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate, rice, sugar and other products when possible
-     Serve free Fair Trade coffee and chocolate to customers
-    If you don’t see Fair Trade products in your local shop, ask for them!
-    Host a Fair Trade House party to raise awareness.
-    Serve Fair Trade products at your house of worship.

www.fairtrademonth.org provides you everything to celebrate the Fair Trade month: banners, widget, twitter, facebook, flickr…For example, by adding the Fair Trade Month widget to your page or blog, you can keep up with each new way to support fair trade.
At Jute and Jackfruit we are devoted to conserving natural resources, investing in communities and contributing to the environment and sustainability. In August 2009, Green America just accepted Jute and Jackfruit into their approved network of businesses committed to social and environmental responsibility and we are also a supporter of “Fair Trade the White House” campaign, whose goal is to invite Michelle Obama to join the Fair Trade movement by declaring the White House a “Fair Trade Home”.

Spread the word!

By: Julie Finkel

“We are a grass roots, nonpartisan coalition, of fair trade organizations, vendors, retailers, schools, individuals and consumers”. – Fair Trade the White House

February 2009, Anti-Body (anti-poverty, beautiful body), a fair trade body-care company, initiated a bold move: to create a more just American marketplace by starting with the White House and a grassroots level campaign. Now, six months later, the campaign has gained remarkable steam with everyone from company founders, socially conscious celebrities to everyone in between, joining the movement.

Why Fair Trade the White House? We are inviting the First Lady, Michelle Obama, to declare the White House a “Fair Trade Home” because we recognize that the Whitehouse is a model home for all Americans, and that if the White House can be fair and ethical in its purchases, then its a good reason for others to follow.

So what exactly do we mean by “fair trade”? While it is true that fair wages are part of  being “fair trade”, certified fair trade products go beyond wages to include investments in community and economic development. Fair trade means building direct, long-term, and empowering relationships with economically and socially marginalized producers in developing countries. It also means supporting community development and cultural diversity. All told, fair trade companies and fair trade products support a more sustainable marketplace by directly investing in the communities from which products are made.

How do we know if something is fair trade? There are several labels to look for. First, Transfair USA is the only fair trade certifying entity in the United States at the moment. Currently they are set up to certify a handful of products including coffee, tea, cocoa, other beverages and a few other products. You have probably seen their logo (below). Transfair USA started with coffee then moved on to other food products, but they currently do not do home goods, crafts or textiles. They are piloting a certification for textiles, but that is not yet released. So if you see this logo, you know you are buying a fair trade certified product.

Transfair USA (certified Fair trade product) logo shown above.

The European based Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) www.fairtrade.net also certifies products, but it is less common to see this logo on US products.

FLO logo (above) mostly used for European products.

But what about the thousands of products in our marketplace that are not even eligible for this certification? How do we know if something is fair trade? Well, it turns about there is another organization, Fair Trade Federation www.fairtradefederation.org, which evaluates companies (and not products) for their fair trade practices and commitment to social responsibility. Members of Fair Trade Federation have a demonstrated commitment to social responsibility, fair trade and worker rights. Members of FTF are also allowed to use the FTF logo (here). In addition to FTF, companies can also be evaluated by the World Fair Trade Organization (www.wfto.org).

Fair Trade Federation (FTF) Logo featured above. FTF evaluates companies as fair trade (not products).

Back to Fair Trade the Whitehouse… There are still countless products in the American marketplace that are made under unfair, exploitative working conditions by American or other companies overseas. These entities often  make no long-term investments in these economically marginalized regions of the world from which they are extracting inexpensive labor. This model is very short-term oriented and does not address the long term health and development of these communities. By being more cognizant of where and how our products are made, and choosing to support fair, ethical and sustainable products, we can make a very powerful difference. It may sound simple, but when each of our choices add up, it can make a world of difference. That is precisely why we are asking the White House to consider this as well, since the Obama household has the power to influence so many of us.

Photosource: Whitehouse.gov

Mrs. Obama has already demonstrated a remarkable sense of public service, compassion and charisma at the Whitehouse. With her powerful voice, Michelle has the ability to lead by example (and has already done so!). From her Whitehouse “community” organic garden (involving local city kids), to her support for military families, enthusiasm for increasing national service, and prioritizing her family above all, she is the ideal role model for all. Beyond her accomplishments too is her incredible sense of style: seamless and natural, something we here at Green Cotton appreciate!

So what better person to take on the goal of creating a more fair and just marketplace in America? To help Michelle along in her decision, the campaign is furnishing her with some Fair Trade products to sample and see for her self. During the coming months, the campaign will gather as many online signatures from consumers and organizations as possible to show the First Lady the momentum and support of the fair trade movement.

So check out all the supporting companies and retail shops as well as individuals and other non profits who have already backed the movement on www.fairtradewhitehouse.com. The campaign also offers coupons to some of these great companies like Equal Exchange, Respect Fair Trade Sports and others.

Join in this important initiative by inviting the First Lady to declare the White House a “Fair Trade Home” and help promote the movement. Simply click on the website and sign your letter too! It only takes 10 seconds! Fair trade the Whitehouse has some great materials to print off and distribute, so get them today and start spreading the word! Thank you Anti-body for initiating this great cause.

Source: Fair Trade White House