Conventional Trade
Coffee
Workers who produce coffee or chocolate aren't getting the amount of money they deserve or safe working conditions, or both.
Farmers around the world are forced to accept less then what they deserve because selling to exploitative corporations is their only option. This is enabled by the corrupt practices of the 'middle man', who is a company representative, sent to buy as much produce for the least amount of money. Coffee Farmers are paid $12 dollars a month at the most, if they are even paid at all. There is the constant threat of danger in the form of snake bites and and hard physical labor.
Coffee Farmers are exploited so that major corporations can make as much money as possible. Their profit however, comes at the expense of the farmers well being.
Farmers should be paid a minimum of $1.26 per pound but conventional trading only gives them $0.30 per pound.
Farmers around the world are forced to accept less then what they deserve because selling to exploitative corporations is their only option. This is enabled by the corrupt practices of the 'middle man', who is a company representative, sent to buy as much produce for the least amount of money. Coffee Farmers are paid $12 dollars a month at the most, if they are even paid at all. There is the constant threat of danger in the form of snake bites and and hard physical labor.
Coffee Farmers are exploited so that major corporations can make as much money as possible. Their profit however, comes at the expense of the farmers well being.
Farmers should be paid a minimum of $1.26 per pound but conventional trading only gives them $0.30 per pound.
Chocolate
For chocolate, the greatest problem is found in working conditions. Children are often found working on cocoa farms to provide for themselves or their family. By working on the cocoa farms they can't go to school continuing the cycle of poverty that only education can get him out of.
For two boys this is their reality and these are their stories:
Abdul: He is a 10 year old boy and has been working for three years. He doesn't get any money for his work because he is paid in food. He wears torn clothes from years of labor. When his father died, a stranger brought him to the Ivory Coast to work. Abdul himself doesn't even know what cocoa is for. All he knows is that it gets him his next meal.
Jaco: Is also a young boy who was brought to the Ivory Coast when his father died. He has machete scars on his legs from clearing the bush, but his emotional scars run much deeper. He said that all he wants to do is go to school so he can read and write, but he has never spent a day in school.
For two boys this is their reality and these are their stories:
Abdul: He is a 10 year old boy and has been working for three years. He doesn't get any money for his work because he is paid in food. He wears torn clothes from years of labor. When his father died, a stranger brought him to the Ivory Coast to work. Abdul himself doesn't even know what cocoa is for. All he knows is that it gets him his next meal.
Jaco: Is also a young boy who was brought to the Ivory Coast when his father died. He has machete scars on his legs from clearing the bush, but his emotional scars run much deeper. He said that all he wants to do is go to school so he can read and write, but he has never spent a day in school.
Fair Trade
Coffee
Gerardo Arias Camacho - coffee producer - Costa Rica
"When I was you young the price of coffee fell so low that people had to leave their land and sometimes their country so they could find work, I was one of those people. When I was a bit older I left the country so I could support my family. When I returned, the market conditions hadn't changed much. We didn't have a proper school, good roads or bridges.
But now that our product is Fair Trade certified, we have money for education, roads and bridges, and community empowerment. Our farm is now environmentally friendly - with sustainably produced coffee. As a fair trade farmer I feel that I have a tool in my hand. It has given me knowledge, so that I am more able to defend myself and my people. I feel there is a future in front of us, because we can stay in our country and make a living growing coffee."
(theguardian - Teach us how to fish, don't just give us a fish)
"When I was you young the price of coffee fell so low that people had to leave their land and sometimes their country so they could find work, I was one of those people. When I was a bit older I left the country so I could support my family. When I returned, the market conditions hadn't changed much. We didn't have a proper school, good roads or bridges.
But now that our product is Fair Trade certified, we have money for education, roads and bridges, and community empowerment. Our farm is now environmentally friendly - with sustainably produced coffee. As a fair trade farmer I feel that I have a tool in my hand. It has given me knowledge, so that I am more able to defend myself and my people. I feel there is a future in front of us, because we can stay in our country and make a living growing coffee."
(theguardian - Teach us how to fish, don't just give us a fish)
Chocolate
Kuapa Kokoo is a group farming cooperative that turned to Fair Trade in 1993. Their partnership with Fair Trade organisations have helped them set up a strong,democratic relationship with the chocolate companies, allowing them to communicate the bare minimum they are willing to receive for their product thus leading to a healthy business that can provide for their basic needs.
The projects that Kuapa Kokoo undertake now have the ability to empower women and build a sense of community. Partnering with a Fair Trade organisation have given this group farming cooperative a chance to have the basic necessities of a successful life.
The projects that Kuapa Kokoo undertake now have the ability to empower women and build a sense of community. Partnering with a Fair Trade organisation have given this group farming cooperative a chance to have the basic necessities of a successful life.