| The title of this article is disturbing. The | | | | families through health care, education, and |
| concepts of Organic and Fair Trade are very | | | | through providing the needed capital to |
| important to building (rebuilding) a | | | | improve equipment and methods of harvest so |
| sustainable society. The good news is that | | | | that they can compete in the open market. |
| the certifications are not mutually exclusive | | | | Fair trade goes beyond community and family |
| and actually complement each other nicely. | | | | support and extends to protecting the |
| | | | environment. One of the requirements of fair |
| First, a word about certification. In our | | | | trade certification it that a premium is paid |
| current market, third party certification is | | | | for organic coffee, currently a full 15 cents |
| essential to both organic and fair trade. As | | | | more per pound than just regular fair trade. |
| the market for both fair trade and organic | | | | Many fair trade farmers have switched to |
| grows many businesses would rather change the | | | | organic methods and are now actively |
| definition than to change their practices. We | | | | restoring the rain forest in order to receive |
| are seeing this now in the fair trade coffee | | | | this premium. They are not doing so |
| market place. As time goes on a search for | | | | grudgingly either, they understand that the |
| fair trade coffee is more and more likely to | | | | rain forest is their heritage and want it to |
| turn up non-certified fair trade coffee, | | | | be restored. They don't want to expose |
| which is most likely just a marketing rouse | | | | themselves and their families to toxic sprays |
| to attract ethical customers. In a recent | | | | when they can make a living otherwise. This |
| search of ebay for fair trade coffee 90% of | | | | explains why more than 80% of coffee |
| the results were not third party certified, | | | | certified as fair trade is also certified |
| and upon further examination most looked very | | | | organic. |
| suspect. We have seen this already in the | | | | |
| organic market. How many products marketed to | | | | So why ask the question which is better when |
| organic consumers are actually certified? | | | | you can have both? Well there is plenty of |
| Companies have greened their names but not | | | | coffee out there labeled as organic but not |
| their practices. Without non-biased third | | | | fair trade. The environment is being |
| party certification of organic or fair trade | | | | destroyed by some farmers out of what is seen |
| we are left to trust self interested parties | | | | as economic necessity. Organic is great, but |
| who will only profit from that trust. So look | | | | by itself it is not sustainable, we must |
| at the labels a product caries, look into the | | | | ensure that the people who grow it are |
| requirements of that certification and make | | | | properly compensated otherwise they are put |
| an informed decision. Know what labels you | | | | in an economic position which lends itself to |
| trust and know the ones that you feel are | | | | decisions with negative environmental |
| deceptions. With fair trade Transfair is | | | | consequences. Families that provide us with |
| currently the only certification agency, so | | | | quality organic products deserve financial |
| look for the fair trade label. | | | | security. Fair trade does not compete with |
| | | | organic but it does make sure it is fiscally |
| The concept of growing organic is essential | | | | sustainable for the producers, thus ensuring |
| to the preservation of our environment. | | | | future supply in our current economy.. |
| Herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers seep | | | | |
| into the ground polluting our groundwater and | | | | This is why the fair trade model works. First |
| it also runs off the fields and into local | | | | it ensures the financial security of the |
| water resources. When forest are cleared for | | | | farmers through fair prices, access to |
| the planting of fields much of the topsoil is | | | | non-predatory loans and capital needed to |
| eroded and transported in nearby streams to | | | | market and sell their goods. Then it |
| the nearest lake where it deposits the | | | | guarantees them a premium for environmentally |
| sediment, filling up the lake. Working with | | | | friendly practices, which many times leads to |
| the environment to prevent this erosion, | | | | conversion of conventional fields to organic. |
| organic coffee farmers preserve the fertility | | | | This model has been working for coffee and |
| of the land by growing coffee in the shade, | | | | has now expanded to tea, chocolate and even |
| where coffee was meant to grow. This shade | | | | some tropical fruits. |
| grown coffee provides the migratory birds | | | | |
| with habitat and is thus called bird | | | | The results of fair trade have been amazing: |
| friendly. The concept of organic goes beyond | | | | |
| protecting the environment and extends to | | | | * Organic methods are being used and taught |
| protecting the the people who work in the | | | | |
| fields. Many of the chemicals used in farming | | | | * Community infrastructure is being built |
| have been shown to cause cancer as well as | | | | rebuilt |
| many other health concerns. These concerns | | | | |
| are multiplied when a person is repeatedly | | | | * Clean water |
| exposed to the sprays, like the farmers. How | | | | |
| many lifelong farmers labored to provide our | | | | * Erosion control |
| society with food and are now suffering from | | | | |
| cancer (my grandfather is one of them)? Some | | | | * Children in school |
| studies have shown that organic methods even | | | | |
| protect those who eat the fruits(even after | | | | * Quality products through quality methods |
| they are washed), and also protect locals who | | | | |
| drink the water. | | | | * Adult education |
| | | | |
| Fair trade certified works in the opposite | | | | * Secure families |
| direction. First it ensures that the people | | | | |
| are being paid and treated fairly. When it | | | | * and sustainability |
| comes to fair trade coffee certification, | | | | |
| fair has an objective definition through the | | | | Next time you buy organic coffee or tea make |
| certification requirements of Transfair. The | | | | sure it is also fair trade certified by |
| coffee farmers are paid a fair trade premium | | | | Transfair. Request that your local grocer |
| (currently $1.26/lb) to ensure that they have | | | | carry fair trade fruits when they are |
| money to invest in their community | | | | available. |
| infrastructure. The money supports the | | | | |