Fair Trade Toronto

Sugar has a history of being one of the most profitable commodities around the world. Alternative products like sweeteners, agave, and corn syrup are driving down the global demand for sugar. The remaining demand is being dominated by large, wealthy Northern farms that receive generous subsidies. This economic environment has made it extremely difficult for small farmers in producer countries to earn a decent living off of their crops.

WHAT IS FAIR TRADE SUGAR?

Exporting sugar is critical for many countries, but most lack proper government and economic support to safeguard this industry. The farmers then become venerable to natural disaster, climate change and market fluctuation.

Fair Trade sugar represents over 10,000 farmers in Belize, Ecuador, Paraguay, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Mauritius, Malawi, and Zambia, Guiana, Swaziland, Jamaica, Cuba, Fiji, and India.

The producers are guaranteed a social premium. This social premium is used for economic development in that country (as determined by the producer community.)

  ·       Producers are organized in democratically governed co-ops or associations.

·       The Fairtrade price and the Fairtrade Premium are paid directly to co-ops that are democratically organized.

·       There are strict environmental standards that prevent the use of GMO’s and agrochemicals

·       Co-ops can get a pre-harvest line of credit should they need it

·       Fair Trade Premiums are used for social and economic investments such as education, health services, processing equipment, and loans to members.

For more information please refer to Fair Trade Canada – On Sugar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmMiYyVTmcw

Spain, Oxfam Intermon created the first coffee that helps you sleep better

A coffee that helps you sleep better, yes, you read that right. It is with this message that the NGO Oxfam Intermon communicated in Spain , before valuing the importance of Fair Trade coffee . An entire advertising campaign was set up to highlight this particular coffee. In fact, no new café has been created, but the message is clear: you can sleep better because with the Fair Trade coffee, you know that money is redistributed and allows thousands of farming families to live, thanks to you. A beautiful awareness campaign in partnership with the agency Kitchen , which is not without reminding us of a similar operation launched by Canal Play

VIA Creapills

Mar 13, 2014, 10am-4pm

Interested in Fair Trade? York University's Annual Fair Trade Fair celebrates all that is fair trade, with vendors selling coffee and tea, chocolate and other fair trade food, arts and crafts, and many other items. Information on fair trade at York U and beyond will be available.

Location:East Bear Pit, Central Square

did you hear about the sugar project?

The Sugar Project is a business development resource for local Toronto restaurants who want to make the transition to purchasing Fair Trade sugar.

The Sugar Project, led by Madison Hopper (Business Development Team at Fair Trade Toronto), not only offers the resources to find and procure Fair Trade sugar, but the project also advocates on behalf of our partner restaurants as well as provides staff training and downloadable marketing tools to maximize the public relations effect of their purchasing choices. We love restaurants that serve Fair Trade and so does our ever growing following of Fair Trade buyers.

If you’re a business selling sugar in any quantity – we want you. Simply begin sourcing Fair Trade sugar in your store / restaurant / bakery / food truck / etc and then fill out our contact form. We will then add you to our roster of ethical dining experiences profile your place on our site and start sending customers your way!

If you are a consumer looking to eat and drink your way to a better more sustainable future – we want you! Partake in one of our many Fair Trade eater competitions, explore the sweeter side of the city with our summer Fair Trade bike tours, or speak out with stickers are your local coffee shop. If you want to make a sustainable difference this 2014- we’re here to help.

FACTS

Fair Trade Sugar is Healthier

...because it adheres to organic growing practices and does not come into contact with harmful agrochemicals

Fair Trade Sugar is Good for Farmers

...because farmers are given a social premium on top of market value and are democratically organized

Fair Trade Sugar is Good for the Environment

...because 'Fair Trade' sugar cane cannot be grown in a manner that disrupts natural waterways or rainforests.

Check out this cool video from our friends at the Lithuanian Consumer Institute. They are currently implementing a non-profit project aimed to raise consumer awareness about Fair Trade in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. They have created 3 cartoons about Fairtrade.

Joanne Shuttleworth

GUELPH — There's a movement afoot to have Guelph accredited as a Fair Trade City.

Counc. June Hofland, chair of the Corporate Administration, Finance and Enterprise Committee, said staff is preparing a report that will go to the committee in February or March exploring what it means for the city, what is required by the city and what the benefits may be for the city.

"I don't think it will be onerous or expensive. I would like to see no cost associated with this," Hofland said in an interview. "This kind of designation can help when we're promoting the city to a corporation. It has a lot of merit."

Hofland was approached by members of the grassroots group Fair Trade Guelph to seek the designation. She arranged a meeting with the group, city staff, herself and the University of Guelph, which recently achieved Fair Trade Campus status.

Fair trade is a trading system that ensures producers in developing countries are paid a fair price for the food or goods they produce. The producers form associations or cooperatives and fill orders for like-minded companies in North America.

Fair Trade International sets the standards, such as certified organic farms and no child labour.

"It guarantees for the producer that he will at minimum cover the cost of production," said Sarah Martin, one of the founders of Fair Trade Guelph. "Profits are often used for health care or to make farm improvements. It's a grassroots way to fund themselves and develop sustainable agriculture. With other business models, very little trickles down to the actual producer."

Ethiopia and some African countries are using the fair trade model to improve life for farmers. Crops like coffee, tea, sugar, and spices are grown and traded internationally this way. There are many businesses in Guelph that sell fair trade products already.

For Guelph to get the Fair Trade City accreditation, it would:

•need support of local council;

• have to include fair trade in its ethical purchasing policy;

•need a certain number of shops and restaurants that sell fair trade products (Guelph has already met that requirement).

•have workplaces, faith groups and schools use and promote fair trade products;

•hold public education campaign;

•form a fair trade town steering committee;

•keep momentum going.

On Jan. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon, the group will be giving out free fair trade coffee and chocolates in the Galleria at City Hall. They have other events listed on their website, www.fairtradeguelph.wordpress.com.

There are about 14 Canadian cities and towns with the designation and several are in the process.

Martin said the more people understand about fair trade and the benefits to impoverished communities, the more they will seek out these products.

"Our choices make a difference," Martin said. "It's not just symbolic."

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/4309869-guelph-looks-at-adding-fair-trade-city-to-its-pedigree/

Fair Trade Toronto 2013 X Mas Party