Fair Trade: What it Really Means

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

You've surely seen the label, and you probably have at least a vague idea that it's something good -- but do you know exactly what "Fair Trade" means and is all about? Or what it has to do with that cup of coffee you just drank? We got the scoop so you know before you buy.

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Mary Jo Cook, Chief Impact Officer at Fair Trade USA, explains to SELF that when you buy a product with the Fair Trade Certified label, "You know that the farmers and workers producing the labeled goods were paid fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions, protect the environment and earn community development funds to empower and improve their communities." Cook continued, "Consumers want to know where their products came from--that their morning cup of coffee was grown in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner."

If you're unsure if what you are purchasing is Fair Trade Certified, just check for the eponymous label--or visit FairTradeUSA.org for a full list of approved products.

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According to Cook, Fair Trade USA works with about 750 brands across North America, over 400 of which are coffee brands! Some you might be familiar with: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, the world's largest purchaser of Fair Trade Certified coffee; Dunkin' Donuts, which uses 100% Fair Trade beans in their espresso drinks; and Honest Tea. Starbucks' Italian Roast is also Fair Trade Certified, says Cook. But keep in mind, Fair Trade USA certifies individual products and ingredients, not companies as a whole.

Fair Trade is not only good for your conscience, it has benefits for your health, too. "Fair Trade has very rigorous environmental standards, which restrict things like harmful chemicals and GMOs, and many Fair Trade products are also certified organic," Cook says.

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And don't forget about environmental health. "In order to improve living and working conditions, the environment must also be clean and healthy, and people must be able to farm the land for generations to come," she explains.

So when choosing a cup of coffee, a banana or a bar of chocolate, why not look for the Fair Trade label? As Cook puts it, it's an easy way to "make a difference with your dollar."


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