We stand for eveything that any other Fairtrade Town supports! How does it differ from other ethical labels? Well, the Fairtrade Mark remains unique. While other schemes aim to ‘protect the environment’, Fairtrade’s focus is on helping third farmers and workers in the developing world improve the quality of their lives and take more control over their futures. It gives them stability of prices for
their goods, which can fluctuate enormously on the world market, making life uncertain and often precarious. Fairtrade is the only certification scheme whose purpose is to tackle poverty and empower producers in developing countries. This delivers unique benefits to producers, businesses and consumers. For most Fairtrade products, buyers must pay at least the Fairtrade minimum price or the market price if higher. Also, producer organisations are always paid a Fairtrade social premium, a mandatory amount above the cost of the goods. Local farmers and producers decide how to spend this, agreed democratically within local communities for their benefit, not for company owners. Often invested in farm improvements, processing facilities and schools and medical centres; these can change whole communities.
