What is Fairtrade?

Farmers in the southern hemisphere who grow our coffee , tea, cocoa , bananas are often very poor. Fairtrade means paying farmers a fair price for the work they do and a guarantee that the price they are paid will always cover the cost of production - now matter how low the market price goes.

For these people, Fairtrade means:

• Fair prices and fair wages
• Decent working conditions
• Improved health and safety standards
• Security of long-term contracts
• Respect for people, eg new opportunities for women and children
• Environmental improvements, emphasizing sustainable production
• More control over their own lives, through participating in democratic organisations.