JUST a Heads Up Yall!

With the rise and popularity of organic foods and the constant push for environmentally friendly practices, it is no surprise that fair trade products are becoming more sought after. By definition, fair trade is, “an organized social movement and market-based approach to empowering developing producers and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods.” These goods consist of mainly, handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruits, and flowers.
One of the main goals of fair trade is to work with marginalized producers with the intention of helping them shift from a position of vulnerability to one of economic self-sufficiency. Fair trade does this by encouraging the producers to become stakeholders in their own organizations and play a more active role in the international trading arena.
Some major principles of fair trade include market access for marginalized producers, sustainable and equitable trading relationships, capacity building and empowerment, as well as consumer awareness rising and advocacy.
There are a number of fair trade certified shops, coffee houses and co-ops throughout the city of Milwaukee, even more nationwide. I think it is important to support these local businesses not only because they believe in a movement I believe is important, but also because I know I am getting a high quality product with each purchase. Like most things, fair trade depends on consumer support, however I can justify buying a product that I know is ultimately helping others.