Most of us don't associate flowers with exploitation. Or environmental degradation.
Unfortunately, the cut flower industry has a lot to answer for in this regard, having drawn its profitability from exploiting workers in Latin America and elsewhere for many years (low wages, poor working conditions, no labor organizations, toxic exposure to pesticides and herbicides...). However, the Fair Trade movement has changed the face of floral wholesale and retail in the European Union, and it is gaining a foothold stateside.
So what does Fair Trade mean? What can it mean for those of us in the US who want to design and sell cut flower arrangements without participating in the abuse of workers and the environment in the developing countries?
The Fair Trade movement was initiated by activists in Holland in 1988, responding to a plunge in international coffee prices. While European and American coffee drinkers enjoyed the benefits of cheaper coffee, small farmers in developing countries were devastated. Concerns for their welfare led to the establishment of a system of Fair Trade certification to ensure that coffee and other economically vulnerable agricultural workers were not exploited. However, Fair Trade certification is not just about paying farmers and workers fairly. It is also about promoting education and developing more sustainable trade ties with other nations. Fair Trade certification involves voluntary cooperation with a certifying organization and usually reflects an international effort between companies and their suppliers. Today, coffee and cacao are the two most commonly certified crops, because both industries traditionally exploited their workers. However, any crop or product could be Fair Trade certified.
Unfortunately, the cut flower industry has a lot to answer for in this regard, having drawn its profitability from exploiting workers in Latin America and elsewhere for many years (low wages, poor working conditions, no labor organizations, toxic exposure to pesticides and herbicides...). However, the Fair Trade movement has changed the face of floral wholesale and retail in the European Union, and it is gaining a foothold stateside.
So what does Fair Trade mean? What can it mean for those of us in the US who want to design and sell cut flower arrangements without participating in the abuse of workers and the environment in the developing countries?
The Fair Trade movement was initiated by activists in Holland in 1988, responding to a plunge in international coffee prices. While European and American coffee drinkers enjoyed the benefits of cheaper coffee, small farmers in developing countries were devastated. Concerns for their welfare led to the establishment of a system of Fair Trade certification to ensure that coffee and other economically vulnerable agricultural workers were not exploited. However, Fair Trade certification is not just about paying farmers and workers fairly. It is also about promoting education and developing more sustainable trade ties with other nations. Fair Trade certification involves voluntary cooperation with a certifying organization and usually reflects an international effort between companies and their suppliers. Today, coffee and cacao are the two most commonly certified crops, because both industries traditionally exploited their workers. However, any crop or product could be Fair Trade certified.
What does Fair Trade certification mean? Is it just about prices? To be Fair Trade certified, a company must guarantee that their suppliers do not use child or slave labor, that workers are paid a fair living wage, that employment opportunities are available to all workers and that everyone has an equal opportunity for advancement, and that healthy working and living conditions are provided for workers. In addition, producers must agree to support the educational and technical needs of their workforce, while promoting active and healthy trade agreements and being open to public accountability. Fair Trade certification also often involves environmentally sustainable production and harvest practices, encouraging a stable market and a healthy Earth. Fair Trade certification also usually involves a respect for cultural heritage and encourages cultural exchange between nations rather than the smothering of traditions. Many Fair Trade products include information about the people who grow them and the world they live in, making every cup of coffee an education.
Who determines whether products meet Fair Trade standards? Most Fair Trade certification is governed by Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO), a group of 20 Fair Trade labelers around the world who have set mutual standards and agree to certify and enforce them. In the United States, TransFair USA represents FLO, and numerous companies work with TransFair to achieve Fair Trade certification. Fair Trade products are sometimes more expensive on the shelf, although they probably cost less in terms of human suffering and environmental damage than conventional products. As more companies are working towards Fair Trade certification, the cost is beginning to come down, encouraging consumers to make ethical, healthy, and sustainable choices about the source of their food.
