Chicago Fair Trade presentation

Nathan Wieser

Chicago Fair Trade Presentation

The Chicago fair trade presentation that took place in class last Wednesday focused on the fair trade of coffee. The fair trade federation says “fair trade is a system that not only aims to pay fair wages, but also to support participatory workplaces; ensure environmental sustainability; supply financial and technical support; respect cultural identity, offer public accountability, and educate consumers about the choices that they can make in their regular shopping habits.” The Chicago fair trade works to educate people on fair trade and the role it plays in reducing poverty globally. They also help to increase the number of stores that offer fair trade products throughout the Chicago community. Coffee is the second largest imported thing on the market only behind oil. Many of the farmers are making no more the 11 cents per kilo of coffee. They are not able to live off such small wages. The work that centuries of farmers have put into the crop is unmatched. The Chicago fair trade works to raise awareness so that more people will spend the extra dollar to support a good cause and help support the farmers that make such a product necessary. Coffee is not the only fair trade produce available. The Chicago fair trade is now raising awareness about many other products such as clothing, sugar, rice and many more. With the support of the Chicago community fair trade will be able to grow and farmers in third world countries will have more funds to support their families dramatically increase their economic status.