Columbia University Dining

What is Fair Trade?

According to TransFair USA, "Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace." By purchasing products that are fair trade certified, you are doing your part to ensure that the farmers who produce these products are being compensated fairly for their efforts.

*Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:

• Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
  
  
• 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, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and 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 valuable ecosystems for future generations.

*From TransFairUSA

Dining Services and Fair Trade - a Partnership

Dining Services is doing our part to contribute to fair trade by purchasing Dallis coffee, a fair trade and organic-certified coffee locally roasted in Brooklyn, New York. By purchasing this coffee, Columbia University has become the first university in New York to offer only fair trade and organic coffee in all of their retail locations.

Look for more items to come as the month rolls along!

More Information

For more information on Fair Trade and Fair Trade month, please visit:

Transfair USA
http://transfairusa.org/

Connect with Fair Trade
http://www.connectwithfairtrade.org/

Oxfam International
http://www.oxfam.org/en/

"Fair Trade in Bloom" - an article by The New York Times