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I'm rather conflicted about fair trade goods.
On the one hand, I want farmers to be paid a fair wage and have a good standard of living.
On the other hand, I know that if the recipients of our good will remain farmers, they will also remain poor and dependent on our goodwill. I would much rather see them and their children become more skilled and educated, and not have to farm at a low wage. I want to see these countries grow economically.
So I am doubtful fair trade goods are the best way to spend the money I have available to give to good causes.
So, who will do the farming if these people should do "more skilled" work?
Yes and no.
No when I have the option to buy a similar item direct from the source. As in coffee. If I can get a quality coffee roasted at source in Latin American, I will buy a coffee from that plantation or co-op. They will get a greater percentage of money from the sale than what fair trade provides. It's "beyond fair trade" in a way.
Good point Joanna. That's what I bring up when people say any lower-wage job workers need to change to higher paid jobs. SOMEONE has to do that job. There will still be a need for it so why not pay the person doing it a better wage.
I wish I could find fair trade produce, especially bananas, near me but I haven't been able to. For now, it's limited to coffee and chocolate though I have ordered gifts for people from fair trade companies. However, I do buy a great deal of products from local sources, direct from growers so I hope they are making enough at the price they are selling it.
Sometimes. I focus more on buying local than fair trade, but I often choose fair trade when I buy chocolate or coffee.
Wise choices All!
We have a local coffee roster her in Milwaukee that also participates in "Socially Responsible" purchasing - Meaning - a percentage of money goes to fund the building or rehabilitation of schools, building for public heath facilities, etc in the communities where the coffe is grown & harvested. We definitley need more of these initiatives! Providing fair wages for farming families and providing help to the communities in which they live can break the cycle of poverty. There is no reason we should feel these individuals and their children are doomed to a life with little education & little means to support themselves. Change CAN happen. Make it so.