So Why Fairtrade?
Simple really – because if it isn’t Fairtrade it likely isn’t good enough for the farmers and their communities.
Our new campaign, Fairbruary, runs from 1st February to 28th February and allows us to push for more Fairtrade with businesses and communities.
Fairtrade only makes a difference when we sell products on Fairtrade terms, so keeping a focus on the Fairtrade products will help this to happen by bringing the message to new audiences.
But why should anyone choose Fairtrade over any of the other schemes and claims that are in the marketplace? Thankfully there are lots of good answers to this.
Fairtrade is co-owned by the farmers representatives to ensure it is working for them. It ensures fairer prices, supports communities, and helps to protect our planet.
Just looking at how Fairtrade coffee prices remove the worst effects of the roller coaster that are global coffee prices, gives a good example of Why Fairtrade is the best choice:
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How Fairtrade Coffee Prices work
- A guaranteed minimum price so farmers can cover their basic costs of production avoiding the crash and burn of commodity slumps.
- When market prices go above the minimum price our prices go up with them.
- Farmers get a community investment bonus and decide how to spend it with other farmers.
- Farmers get paid more for producing higher quality coffees.
- Farmers receive a guaranteed organic bonus for organic coffee.
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Coffee Prices are like a roller coaster – long periods of low prices followed by short periods of high prices and then another sharp fall..
A lot of Coffee from Brazil
Another long term coffee partner is the COOMAP coffee co-operative, in the Minas Gervais region, in Brazil.
Rafael Furtado Fonseca was in Ireland in February 2024 and met Fairtrade supporters around the country.
20 Year Coffee Relationship Celebration
In 2024 Bewley’s are celebrating a 20 year partnership with the Flor de Jinotega (SOPPEXCCA) coffee coop in Nicaragua.
Meet Edith, a Fairtrade Cocoa farmer in the Ivory Coast
Other Fairtrade products
Producers of other Fairtrade products also have similar challenges in ensuring decent prices for their produce.
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Fairtrade Cocoa