Because Fair Trade sales are still low compared to other sectors in northern markets, is Fair Trade’s impact significant?
For a Peruvian weaving cooperative making only a few hundred dollars a year, a $1,000 craft sale to a Fair Trade Organization is a significant increase in income. In some parts of the world, Fair Trade earnings are turned over to the community to improve quality of life. The money may fund a potable water system or provide health education or bring an adult literacy program to the community. Other examples abound and FTRN will be relaying these to you as our site grows.
First, sales are no longer small: retail sales of Fair Trade items passed $1.1 billion in the U.S. in 2009. That has generated additional income paid to producers, beyond normal market rates, of $48 million. Further, for a Peruvian weaving cooperative making only a few hundred dollars a year, a $1,000 craft sale to a Fair Trade Organization is a significant increase in income. In some parts of the world, Fair Trade earnings are turned over to the community to improve quality of life. The money may fund a potable water system or provide health education or bring an adult literacy program to the community.
Related Questions
- Can Fair Trade be expanded to encompass not only poor farmers, but also other sectors connecting Southern producers and Northern consumers?
- Because Fair Trade sales are still low compared to other sectors in northern markets, is Fair Trade’s impact significant?
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