| FAIR
TRADE |
| Since
we began in 1988, Coocafe has sold coffee to the Fair Trade
market. Thanks to this model of trade our organization has
gotten stronger and now looks to the future with optimism
despite the fact the coffee prices on the conventional market
continue to suffer from a prolonged period of crisis. |
 |
COMMITMENT
AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT BENEFIT PRODUCERS AROUND THE
WORLD |
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| PRINCIPLES,
ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE: |
Fair
Trade began in Europe in the 1980’s as a social
justice movement based on the principles of solidarity,
equity, quality and justice. |
|
The
model has continued to grow and is now established as International
organization, the FairTrade Labelling Organization (FLO).
FLO works with the goal of offering third world producers
better opportunities, just treatment for producers and workers,
and guarantees quality products for the consumer. |
| Under
the coordination of FLO, the movement actually incorporates
17 different Inititatives in Europe, North America and Japan,
416 different licensed importers, industries, supermarkets
and stores, and more than 800,000 producers associated in
more than 275 groups that produce and sell banans, fruits,
coffee, cacao, sugar, tea, fruit juices, florers, baseballs,
soccer balls and rice. |
Fair
Trade is comprised of 3 different groups of participants |
|
1
THE PRODUCERS:
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Cualquier
productor que desee beneficiarse de este mercado debe
provenir de zonas de desarrollo marginal (aquellas zonas
con dificultades de acceso a mercados, financiamiento,
comunicación, salud y educación) y participar
en una organización democrática y legalmente
constituida. Deben a su vez, asumir el compromiso de producir
de acuerdo con los estándares de calidad establecidos
para cada uno de los productos.
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2
THE
LICENSEES:
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Are
the businesses that pruchase, process or sell the products.
They abide by regulations of transparency, pay minimum
prices and follow other requirements established by FLO.
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3
NATIONAL
IINITIATIVES AND CAMPAIGNS:
|
Help control the intermediaries and participants with
the goal of ensuring that the objectives of the organization
are followed for the benefit of the producer. They also
bring attention to the issues in their contries and promote
Fair Trade with the goal of acheiving the support of consumers
and increasing sales of the different Fair Trade products.
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| Representatives
from all of these groups form part of the Board of Directors
of FLO International, which metes at least twice per year
in order to define policies and make decisions about the
process and structure of Fair Trade.
FLO
or the individual Initiatives always do an anual evaluation
to assure that all of the participants are following the
regulations. Any organization that is not complying with
the regulations is at risk of being excluded from the system.
FLO
also offers support to the producers in different areas
of production, industrialization, financing and comercialization
by facilitating contact with specialitists in each field.
Other
themes that Fair Trade promotes are protection of the environment
and a greater participation of women in decisión
making and productive activities. |
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| solidarity |
FAIR
TRADE guarantees the producer a MINIMUM PRICE which is not
affected by changes in the international coffee market. In
this way small producers can count on the economic support
to improve their living conditions, provide education to their
children and invest in land. They obtain this FAIR PRICE thanks
to the solidarity of consumers around the world who recognize
the effort of these producers and the quality of their products
and are willing to pay more for products that come from FAIR
TRADE organizations. |
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| comercial
opportunities |
FAIR
TRADE makes it posible for organizations of small coffee producers
to directly access international markets. In this way, the
participation of intermediaries is reduced and a better price
can be acheived for the producer. This concept of Fair Trade
benefits the producers and their families and offers oportunities
for development of their organizations and communities. |
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| taking
on responsibility |
The
philosophy of FAIR TRADE is based on the principles of honesty,
transparency, eficiency, protection of the environment. The
producer must promise to be loyal to the values of FAIR TRADE
and fight forimprovement for all of their associates and suplí
an excellent quality product to the market that fills the
expectations of the consumers. |
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| active
participation |
In
order to participate in FAIR TRADE, the producers must belong
to some type of democratic organization or cooperative. Support
for projects that involve women is another priority of the
FAIR TRADE market. In Costa Rica, COOCAFE and their 9 cooperatives
have meant the entry to this market for small coffee producers
for more than 10 years. |
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| the
meeting of the producer and the market |
In
order for FAIR TRADE to work properly the participation of
the producers and their organizations, the importers, the
industries and the merchants, is all necessary.
Producers from Asia, Africa and Latin America all participate
in thsi market and sell their products to consumers in the
USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japón and many
countries in Europe. |
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| backing
for the consumer |
Consumers
of FAIR TRADE know that their coffee comes from samll producers
because each package is identified with a FAIR TRADE logo.
Among the Initiatives that regulate and promote this market
around the world are MAX HAVELAAR, FAIR TRADE and TRANSFAIR. |
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| means
opportunitites for many producers |
More
than jst coffee organizations participate in FAIR TRADE
including producers of bananas, cacao, sugar, honey, rice,
juices, fruits, and baseballs, which benefits more than
800,000 families.
These
numbers show that FAIR TRADE has stopped being just an ideal
and has converted into a necessary and permanent system
for many rural families around the world. |
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| responsibility |
FAIR
TRADE requires the responsible participation of the producers
and their supporting organizations. FAIR TRADE demands an
excellent quality product and requires a great amount of
commitment and RESPONSIBILITY on behalf of the producer.
In order to compete in quality and marketing in the international
market the co-ops have to be efficient in every area of
production. The FAIR TRADE market demands that every cooperative
work optimally and efficeintly. |
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| sharing |
In
Costa Rica, COOPE CERROAZUL was the first cooperative to
negotiate the sale of coffee in this market. This coonection
allowed COOCAFE R.L. to initiate their contacts with FAIR
TRADE in 1989, one year after their creation. 15 years later
these links have grown and have made reality the dream of
a better life for the 3,500 coffee producers of COOCAFE
R.L. |
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|
organized producers
|
COOCAFE
and their 9 afiliated cooperatives sell close to 30 thousand
quintales of coffee to the FAIR TRADE market each year.
They have also opened up links to export roasted coffee
and other products like macadamia nuts, and yuca chips.
This great effort of producers, cooperatives and COOCAFÉ
to diversify their products counts on the support of FAIR
TRADE. |
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| commitment
to the community |
The
relationship between COOCAFE and FAIR TRADE permits the
9 associate cooperatives to bring about a series of projects
including private foundations such as Foundation Café
Forestal and Foundation Hijos del Campo which benefit the
producers, their familes and the communtiies where they
live.
They have implemented projects around education, the environemtn,
health, and communications and infrastructure, as well as
services directly related to production like agricultural
supplies stores, credit and technical assistance. |
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| a
better life |
In
the end the objective of FAIR TRADE is to provide small rural
pruducers with a BETTER LIFE and assure a better future for
their children and families. This implies not only improving
their income but also worrying about protecting the environment,
assuring that producers and their families have access to
basic services like health, education, food and potable water. |
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| What
matters in
FAIR
TRADE
is
YOU
and YOUR FAMILY |
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