What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade promotes more equitable, less exploitative dealings with producers in developing countries. It connects producers and consumers in more meaningful and sustainable ways.
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We sell fair trade:
Coffee - Chocolate - Tea – other products
at various locations throughout the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island.
(Click on the word to find out more about each of the products.)
Fridays from 11am-1pm you can purchase these products at special prices at the World Community Centre in Tintown (near the Freakin Coffee shop).
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The following are principles of Fair Trade:
- Paying Fair Prices – Farmers get a fair price for their products, often a fair amount higher than the world market price.
- Buying directly from producers – Exploitative middlemen are bypassed and the product is bought directly from producers. This way costs are cut and producers get a greater percentage of the retail price.
- Working with Cooperatives – Fair Trade product buyers work primarily with worker owned and democratically run cooperatives and associations that bring significant benefits to workers and their communities.
- Environmental Sustainability – Fair Trade producers are encouraged to engage in environmentally friendly practices which manage and use local resources sustainably.
- Financial Support – Small-scale producers in the developing world lack access to affordable financing. The buyers of fair trade products often provide financial assistance either through advance payment, loans, or by linking producers with sources of financing.
- Developing long-term relationships – By buying directly from the producers and offering them a long-term relationship, they are assured of a sustainable income.h linked to the same page (aka Fair Trade Products)
Who benefits from Fair Trade?
- The Farmer – Fair trade increases annual incomes of small farmers, helps put in place tools for self-sufficiency, assists small farmers to stay out of high-interest debt and helps build infrastructure in the farmer’s community.
- The Consumer – Fair trade lets consumers have a clear conscience about their purchases.
- The Environment – Small farmers use organic, shade-grown methods, which are more sustainable for the environment and which is key to protecting certain species of birds. The existence of small farmers helps prevent the clear-cutting of larger estates.
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What products are available?
Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, fruit (bananas and pineapples), textiles and crafts.
What can you do?
- Buy Fair Trade products. We sell COFFEE - TEA - CHOCOLATE – OTHER PRODUCTS
- Ask for Fair Trade products in stores and restaurants.
- Talk about Fair Trade with family and friends.
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World Community’s Fair Trade Links
Information on Fair Trade:
- www.transfair.ca - Fair Trade Certification organization in Canada
- www.oxfam.ca - a non-profit international development organization
Buying Fair Trade:
- www.justuscoffee.com - Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-operative Ltd. based in Nova Scotia
- www.lasiembra.com - Fair Trade Chocolate Co-op based in Ottawa
- www.tenthousandvillages.com - Fairly traded handicrafts from around the world
- www.ecologyofspirit.com - West Coast textile designs based in the Comox Valley
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Do you want your organization linked on this page? Please contact us at ecarswell@shaw.ca
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