The fair trade movement has been around for over sixty years and can trace its origins back to the end of World War II. The initiative is designed to stabilise the incomes of farmers and workers around the world, as well as provide them with better working conditions and more opportunities to develop their communities. For the consumer, it means peace of mind when it comes to issues like traceability and ethical business - not to mention a quality product.
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
This Fairtrade Fortnight, take a stand against economic injustice and empower farmers and workers in developing countries to improve their lives and livelihoods.
Each August, Fairtrade Fortnight is a reminder of the positive difference that is made to families and communities when customers purchase products carrying the Fairtrade Mark.
By choosing Fairtrade, you’re working to counter inequality in trade relationships.
The manufacturers of products carrying the Fairtrade Mark have paid at least a Fairtrade Minimum Price, set to cover the sustainable cost of production, or the market price when it’s higher, to the farmers and workers who grew the ingredients.
Producers are also paid an additional sum of money, the Fairtrade Premium, which they democratically decide how to invest.
It can be spent on a range of initiatives, from training and business management to community development initiatives, such as education, access to clean water and healthcare.
The positive impact of Fairtrade is felt by producers in developing countries around the world, including Sri Lanka, Kenya and Peru, as well as our neighbours in the Pacific Islands and Papua New Guinea.
COUNTDOWN
Countdown have number of Fairtrade certified products available for customers to purchase, including bananas, chocolate, and coffee.
In 2016 Countdown launched New Zealand’s first Fairtrade Climate Neutral Coffee, which not only helps fight climate change, but also supports communities adapt to the challenges of changing climate. Fairtrade Climate Neutral Coffee is available at Countdown as part of its Macro brand.
NEW WORLD
New World supermarkets are a proud supporter of Fairtrade. It stocks one of the largest selection of Fairtrade products nationwide from vanilla, ice-cream, bananas, chocolate, tea, coffee, coconut drinks and kombucha.
In 2017, New World sold nearly 5 million Fairtrade Certified products across all our stores nationwide. Last year New World, through sales of Fairtrade products New World contributed over a quarter of a million in additional funds to support farming communities. New World were also the first nationwide retailer to stock All Good Fairtrade bananas in 2010.
Over the past six years New World has sold over 34 million All Good Fairtrade bananas and have put over $500,000 back in development funding for banana growing communities in Ecuador. This includes provision of medical clinics, school teachers, a special needs school, school supplies and much more.
“We are very thankful for the support that Foodstuffs offer us by buying our All Good Fairtrade bananas. With your help we have a stable economy and our fruit is valued at the right price. Without the sale of All Good Fairtrade Bananas our economy would collapse. I have been a small banana producer for 13 years in El Guabo and I hope to continue for many more. Thank you for the support from both All Good and Foodstuffs, I am very grateful.” - Washington Torres, El Guabo Cooperative.
Over 10 percent of all bananas sold in New World are now Fairtrade and has been the fastest growing banana category in New World over the last five years.
Find out more about Fairtrade at fairtrade.org.nz
In recognition of Fairtrade Fortnight, SupermarketNews has profiled some of the best Fairtrade NZ-certified products on shelves today.
Founded in Christchurch in 2010 by Lucy Bennetto, Bennetto Natural Foods Co. makes organic, Fairtrade, gluten-free, dairy-free handmade chocolate. Bennetto represents all things natural so it only uses Organic Fairtrade Peruvian cocoa and clean whole ingredients, aiming to allow customers to taste the passion, quality and flavour in everything it produces.
The beans form Bennetto chocolate are entirely cultivated by small scale Fairtrade farming cooperatives in Peru and Ecuador. The Fairtrade premium is used to champion gender equality, technical farmer training and reforestation in the Amazon.
For more information please contact Lucy Bennetto at lucy@bennetto.co.nz or call +64 03 386 3528
Kōkako have been roasting their Fairtrade certified Aotea coffee for 10 years now and are staunchly committed to improving the livelihoods of the men and women who farm the beans for this blend. Aotea is a medium-bodied juicy coffee with notes of forest fruit and cacao; sourced from Fairtrade organic cooperatives in Papua New Guinea, Honduras & Sumatra. The Kōkako team have been lucky enough to visit the Papua New Guinean cooperative, HOAC, several times to see the first hand the impact a Fairtrade purchase makes. Choosing to look for the Fairtrade mark is one way we can collectively work towards an equitable distribution of wealth.
