Fair Trade Your Supermarket: Fair Trade Talking Points

1. What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is a system of exchange that honors producers, communities, consumers, and the environment. Fair Trade helps ensure that farmers and artisans throughout the developing world receive a fair price for their products, have direct involvement in the marketplace, and uphold environmental and labor rights standards. The system builds real and lasting relationships between producers in developing countries and businesses and consumers around the world.

2. Why should I stock Fair Trade?

• There is a growing movement for Fair trade here in the US, and growing consumer demand.
• Fair Trade sales have grown from nothing to $1 billion over the past few years. More and more consumers are asking for Fair Trade.
• In the conventional marketplace, producers in poor countries can receive less than the cost of production for their goods, driving them into debt and continuing the cycle of poverty in marginalized communities. On the contrary, Fair Trade ensures the health and well-being of workers, communities, and the environment and allows for producers to have a better quality of life and a better future. How does Fair Trade ensure this?

-  Fair Trade guarantees producers in the developing world a fair and stable price for their product so that they can meet their living needs.

-  Fair Trade promotes long-term trading relations and gives farmers the knowledge and skills for operating in the global economy

-  When they’re paid a living wage, farmers earn enough to invest in local community development—providing education, health care, and more to their communities.
Fair Trade producers are encouraged to use environmentally sustainable production methods, including organic farming (no harmful chemicals) crop rotation, composting, water conservation and reforestation.

3. Why do you think that people will buy Fair Trade?

• As people are becoming more aware of Fair Trade and its benefits for producers in the developing world, many consumers are now seeking out Fair Trade products.
• Fair Trade is a win-win for producers and consumers. It gives consumers an opportunity to purchase with their values and get quality products.

4. Is the quality good?

• Fair Trade products are often higher quality than other products because the Fair Trade system provides incentives for farmers to improve the quality of their products. For example, most Fair Trade coffee is also single origin, which enhances the quality of the coffee. Fair Trade coffees consistently win awards for taste and quality.

5. Isn’t Fair Trade more expensive?

• Most Fair Trade products like coffee, tea, and chocolate, are priced in the same range as other high-quality specialty food items, such as organic products.
• Also, because Fair Trade relationships are more direct than conventional trade, there are fewer points along the supply chain where a middleman will raise the price before passing it on and taking a large cut for themselves. Click here to see how a Fair Trade supply chain is more direct.

6. How can I get it through my distributors?

• Many supermarket distributors offer Fair Trade products as part of the catalog of items supermarkets can choose to carry.
• UNFI (United Natural Foods) is the largest distributor of Fair Trade food products. If you already have a relationship with UNFI it will be easy to stock Fair Trade items in your store. Visit www.unfi.com for more information.
• TransFair USA is a third-party Fair Trade certifier in the United States. Its website, www.TransFairUSA.org can provide you with information about distributors in your area.
• In addition, many stores, especially smaller, local grocery store chains, have policies that allow them to order products directly from the manufacturer. The manager of your local store can check with senior management about this possibility and then they can approach the brands you requested directly.