Fair Trade

Here at the cafe we serve fair trade coffee. We see these words "Fair trade" a lot these days, but what exactly does fair trade mean. Here's what we found out:
Fair trade is a financial relationship between producers, sellers, and consumers based on the principle of equity within the exchange of goods. Equity is achieved by creating an environment for trade that is transparent and therefore accountable for the fair treatment of all producers. This includes providing market avenues that allow smaller producers the opportunity to sell, ensuring humane working conditions, and all the while protecting environmental and cultural factors that play into the production of their goods.
These are nine main principles by which all fair trade abides:
1) Create opportunities for marginalized producers,
2) Develop transparent relationships,
3) Build capacity,
4) Promote fair trade,
5) Pay promptly and fairly,
6) Support empowering working conditions,
7) Ensure children’s rights,
8) Cultivate environmental stewardship,
9) Respect cultural identity.