Australia and New Zealand Fairtrade
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is a company devoted to providing better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in developing countries. Today, Fairtrade helps over six million people – farmers, producers, workers and their families –around 77 countries to benefit from the Fairtrade system. Fairtrade helps to protect farmers and workers from the damaging fluctuations in world market trade prices by providing them with a fair price for their produce as well as providing them with additional money for investment in social, economic and environmental community development which may include building schools or hospitals. The Fairtrade standards also prohibit the use of forced and abusive child labour. The Fairtrade Trade Standards:
All traders who buy Fairtrade certified products must comply with this set of criteria which cover the terms of Fairtrade trade: - Buyers must pay a price to farmers and workers to at least cover the costs of sustainable production (the Fairtrade minimum price) - Pay a premium for farmers and workers to invest in community development (the Fairtrade premium) - Partially pay in advance if requested by the farmers and workers |
How does Fairtrade provide a better deal for farmers, workers and producers in the developing world?
- Provides a fair and stable price for their produce - Provides the security of long-term contracts - Provides an investment for local community development - Provides improved working conditions - Provides environmentally sustainable farming methods - Provides support in gaining knowledge and skills needed to operate successfully in the global economy The Fairtrade Minimum Price is the minimum price that a buyer must pay for Fairtrade products to pay a Producer Organisation for their product. The price is not fixed but is set at a level that ensures the Producer Organisations receive a price that covers the cost of sustainable production for their products. The price also protects farmers during the times that world markets fall below a sustainable level. It is required that buyers enter long-term trading relationships as it allows producers to predict their income and plan for the future.
The Fairtrade Premium is the extra amount of money paid as well as the Fairtrade minimum price for producers to invest in community development projects which usually includes healthcare, education, farm improvements or processing facilities to increase income. |
Below is the full list of certified Fairtrade chocolate products as taken from the official Australia and New Zealand Fairtrade website: