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Gopher Spot Goes Green

Fair Trade

Fair trade logos

Fair Trade is a social movement that focuses on empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability. It has six main goals that the Gopher Spot proudly supports:

Fair price
Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price for their produce.
Fair labor conditions
Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
Direct trade
With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Democratic and transparent organizations
Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.
Community development
Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
Environmental sustainability
Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers' health and preserve ecosystems.

Fair Trade vs. Traditional Trade

Check out the model of traditional trade in the coffee industry, compared with that of fair trade:

Traditional system: coffee farmer, local speculator, exporter, importer/broker/trader, roaster, distributor, retail outlet/café, your cup.  Fair trade system: coffee farmer, roaster/wholesaler, retailer, your cup.

Learn More about Fair Trade!

Featured Products

  • Fair Trade Coffee

    Fair Trade Coffee

  • Endangered Species Chocolate

    Endangered Species Chocolate

  • Divine Chocolate

    Divine Chocolate

Factoids

More than one billion people, or 1 out of every 6 people, lack access to a safe supply of drinking water. Diseases associated with the lack of clean water are leading cause of death in the world.

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