A new Fair Trade Federation has been set up – moving us forward, or yet another confusing layer for consumers and producers to contend with? http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/fairtrade/2012/06/11/beyond-the-label-building-better-fair-trade-businesses/
The LYF (www.lyf.org.uk) is a trade justice charity (founded in memory of Cafédirect pioneer Lorna Young) which is starting to make a big impact at home and internationally. We have ambitious plans for the future and are looking for up to four new Trustees (one as the next Chair) to join our Board and help [...]
The LYF has now broadcast 27 weekly farmer radio programmes since Autumn 2011. The radio programmes are already demonstrating a significant impact. For example, smallholder farmers have already changed some of their practices in the cooperatives where the Farmer Field Listening Groups are operating – as a direct result of the SSN. The first 2-4 [...]
One of the biggest problems facing poor smallholders in developing countries is their lack of access to relevant, affordable and timely information on agri-business issues, especially in relation to export markets. This impacts on their ability to engage fairly within both local and global trade. At the same time, the challenges of climate change, food [...]
Great article from Chris Bacon, discussing the future of Fair Trade; and some real dialogue about Fair Trade choices http://www.foodfirst.org/sites/www.foodfirst.org/files/pdf/The_struggle_for_food_justice_in_Fair_Trade_2011-12.pdf
With Fairtrade reaching 25 years, there is a growing debate about its future, its direction and its place in trade justice. This Guardian article provides an interesting insight to the issues and invites readers’ views http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/feb/01/fair-trade-ethical-debate-fairtrade?newsfeed=true
Graphic showing Coffee Buying By Corporations The major Food Corporations – Sara Lee, Kraft, Nestle and Starbucks buy huge quantities of coffee each year. This graphic helps to put this in context and shows how much of it is (or is not) fair trade.
http://www.octopusgourmet.com/coffee/fair-trade-coffee-why-was-the-united-states-such-a-late-bloomer/
There is a growing debate about the direction that Fair Trade certification bodies are taking, fuelled by the recent split by Fair Trade USA from FLO. This article focusses on the issues. http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/11/nestle-folger-fair-trade
It’s finally here – the Black Gold Foundation is now up and running and our new website is open for business (www.blackgoldfoundation.org). The BGF is aiming to keep the conversation about trade justice in the coffee industry alive and to encourage dialogue and consensus around the future of coffee trading. Please visit the site, sign [...]
