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Information for presentation on Fairtrade in six parts to use as required
Page One - An Overview
Page Two - Coffee
Page Three - Cocoa
Page Four - Kuapa Kokoo
Page Five - Fairtrade Developments.
Page Six - Sources
A talk on fairly traded goods should ideally be accompanied with plenty of free samples!
Theres nothing like giving out free chocolate to keep your audience's
attention. Perhaps TIDAL should have a budget for the purpose.
Food, clothes, shoes, toys etc = end of a chain.
Beginning of chain is increasingly in Third World Countries:
Farmers: see prices fall below cost of production - going out of business
Factory workers: exploited, sweat-shop labour, child labour, enforced unpaid overtime, no unions
volatile prices - usually falling
have to sell to middle men who can play one farmer against another - coffee farmers in Costa Rica have to walk for two days with the coffee on their backs to reach middle men at local town and then have to wait 6 months to be paid
often isolated no knowledge of what market wants
"dumping" Heavily subsidised produce from USA and Europe
out prices local farmers
e.g. Haiti used to be self sufficient in rice production - now dependent
on USA
Cheaper for South Africans to buy chicken imported from California than local chicken.
Commodity prices for coffee and cocoa are lowest for 25 years
Millions of farmers can't support families by farming. Loss of self respect. Get into debt, loose land.
Migrate to big cities looking for work - family break-up - children miss out on schooling
Add to problems of cities fragile infrastructure - growth of shanty towns.
Needs international agreements i.e. WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION
Many NGOs putting pressure on their governments to make trade fair
e.g. TRADEJUSTICE MOVEMENT - OXFAM - WORLD DEVELOPMENT MOVEMENT
Third World Governments work hard to change rules at WTO but can't afford to be present at meetings in Geneva and can't afford technical expertise. Often miss crucial meetings
Although in theory it's democratic, in practice rich west has the upper hand.
Consumers in the rich world have discovered that they can use their purchasing power to have a direct effect on the price paid to the producer through Fairtrade.
Started in the Netherlands in 1988
Now operating in 16 different countries, mainly Europe
Now have INTERNATIONAL MARK that ensures decent wages and conditions
for farmers in certain crops.(Before producers had to cope with 7
different Fairtrade marks across Europe! Make exporting very complicated)
Covers tea, coffee, cocoa, bananas, sugar, orange juice and honey
Works directly with farmers organisations
Farmers must demonstrate they can meet quality standards consistently.
Pay guaranteed minimum price that covers cost of production and ensures living wage for the growers.
Pays social premium to the Farmers associations for social development in the community, e.g. Building a school
Builds up long term relationships so farmers can plan.
Offers pre finance because most farmers can't afford to borrow from Banks.
Issues Fairtrade Mark in UK that is guarantee to consumers.
Example of coffee cooperative in Nicaragua:
Now 50% of crop is sold as Fairtrade coffee (they would like it to be more)
Receive technical help and long term commitment.
Used extra money to build a primary school on farm. Previously no school existed.
Now 42 children aged 5-11 receive primary education
Cooperative are also planning to plant 2000 trees around the farm to help environment.
Used to be only available from specialist shops and mail order, but NOW...
All major supermarkets sell some Fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas
CO-OP sells wide range of Fairtrade goods including own brand and including a Fairtrade Chocolate cake! Changing all its own brand chocolate to Fairtrade
SAINSBURYS also sells wide range including own brand. Sells 1 million Fairtrade bananas per week!
TESCOS Agreed to sell Fairtrade bananas and now the whole of the Dominican banana export is Fairly traded.
Also found in some corner shops especially if you ask for them.
COSTA COFFEE have Fairtrade coffee and tea as an option
PRET A MANGER All their filter coffee is Fairtrade.
STARBUCKS At the time of writing you could choose Fairtrade coffee
only in a Cafetiere for six - but we're working on them.
Fairtrade sales improving year on year
2001: £33million
2002: £59million
Fairtrade mark roast and ground coffee takes 14% of the UK market.
But...
Fairtrade organisations don't have big budget for advertising.
30 seconds advertising on peak time TV costs £100,000
Kitkat's annual budget for advertising is £9million!!!!
Therefore...
Supermarkets aren't charities and won't keep things on the shelf if they don't sell.
We rely on work of mouth and PESTER POWER If you don't see it ASK FOR IT