Comments for Small Farmers. Big Change.

Comment on Equal Exchange at the White House by Andrew Kessel

Andrew Kessel — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:33:31 +0000

love it Jessie, this is an awesome piece. EE taking it to the White House! It’s remarkable that the model has had so much success and yet receives so little attention among policy makers.

Comment on Who Grows Your Bananas? Introducing Anibal Fernando Cabrera Ochoa by F.Z.

F.Z. — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:32:11 +0000

Is there a place other than in the catalog to buy for fund raising?

Comment on The Theft of Fair Trade: A Producer’s Perspective by Andrew Kessel

Andrew Kessel — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:46:51 +0000

Hi Rita,
I think the simple answer is that there is no seal people can trust to find a small farmer coffee. Standards have been weakening over a long period of time and now the main U.S. certifier for Fair Trade is certifying both plantations and small-farmers with no way for consumers to distinguish what they are buying. Equal Exchange has been, and will continue to be, committed 100% to small farmer co-operative groups where true change in international trade is happening.

Comment on The Theft of Fair Trade: A Producer’s Perspective by Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:24:24 +0000

It takes courage to innovate, and I think Fair Trade USA has done an excellent job and sticking with their beliefs in order to expand the impact of Fair Trade. This article reflects poorly on Equal Exchange, and I am disappointed that you would use such outlandish, sensational statements to criticize and organization that could potentially be one of your strongest allies. I have taken the time to understand why Fair Trade USA has decided to start pilot programs with farm workers, and at the same time they are increasing their support for cooperatives. If only you could use the energy it took to write posts like this to educate and enroll more consumers in the Fair Trade movement. Or, it you want to go the activist approach, target organizations that are creating the problems, not the ones trying to help. This just turns people off. Shame on you.

Comment on Ownership – It Matters! by Paul Keleher

Paul Keleher — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:51:31 +0000

Phyllis,

Great post! When you said, “I think many people who want to make ethical choices in their lives…assume that fair trade costs more because it means higher “wages” paid to workers, as opposed to better “prices” paid for farmers’ crops.”, you hit the nail right on the head in describing a big part of the message problem.

A well intended individual, who may be feeling overworked and underpaid by his/her employer, can easily use that feeling to rationalize a less expensive purchase of plantation coffee today, promising to themselves that “someday when I get that raise, I’ll pay more for my coffee and buy fair trade. Of course, that day will never come as long as someone retains that mindset.

Comment on Ownership – It Matters! by Andrew Kessel

Andrew Kessel — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:07:07 +0000

This is a great piece Hillary. I agree whole heartily about the distinction between”price” and “wages” that I think most consumers here miss because we aren’t used to thinking about things in this way (I even had to re-read that sentence twice). It’s really a different framework through which to view the world and I think you nailed it- it really comes down to ownership and this is the most difficult aspect of Fair Trade to convey to people; which might also be the reason why it was the easiest to try and change from the certifier’s perspective since they assumed that no one would really notice or care. But people do, and the EE petition grows daily!

Comment on The Theft of Fair Trade: A Producer’s Perspective by Paul Keleher

Paul Keleher — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:39:27 +0000

Rita, the average shopper might understand that it’s just another example of giant corporations growing mediocre coffee and crushing the little guy, the small farmer growing premium coffee.

Comment on The Theft of Fair Trade: A Producer’s Perspective by Rita Danks

Rita Danks — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:02:04 +0000

This is a very well written article! I understand the situation 100%, but I could use any suggestions that you may have on how to explain it to consumers when I am doing the EE Demos in Cleveland. It is a very difficult situation to explain the the every day shopper in the grocery store.

Comment on A Photo Journal of Tea Pluckers in Darjeeling by rivervalleymarket

rivervalleymarket — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Hello, Phyllis,

I’m running a short article on a trip to India hosted by Equal Exchange that our Merchandising Manager Joanne just made. We’re hoping to publish a beautiful photo reflecting her experience on the front page of our newsletter. May I have your permission to use the photo above titled India 2009 406? I will, of course, credit you and Equal Exchange.

Thank you for your consideration

Loran Saito

Comment on The Theft of Fair Trade: A Producer’s Perspective by Michael Skillicorn

Michael Skillicorn — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:20:57 +0000

Really a great post. I think you’ve presented the argument in a very concise way, and the contribution from Santiago is powerful. Following your logic, I think no matter how you look at it – from an historical perspective, or a current one – Fair Trade USA is on the wrong path. Fair Trade was meant to change the way that we trade, not make it just a little better. So the question is, what now? It seems to me like the brand ‘Fair Trade’ is lost and gone forever. Does Equal Exchange think it is possible to resuscitate it?