Category: Impact and Challenges

At Fairtrade, our mission is to help farmers and workers in some of the world’s poorest countries to get a better deal and escape poverty. We’re deeply worried that this virus will devastate the communities we work with – not only because of its impact on people’s health, but also the very real possibility that containment measures will cause widespread hardship to people’s incomes and wages.

In words that will resonate with people all around the world, ‘Since the pandemic started, our life has really changed’ says Grace Otieno, a worker on a Fairtrade certified farm in the Naivasha region of Kenya.

Uganda, like many other countries around the world, has implemented a national lockdown to contain the spread of the novel COVID-19.

As the world faces the Coronavirus pandemic as one, we at Fairtrade are focusing on how the rapidly evolving crisis is affecting the farmers and workers who produce many of our favourite goods, including our most treasured outfits and our everyday clothes.

High up on the superfood list, bananas are rich in Vitamin B6 and C and are a good source of dietary fibre and manganese. But the true heroes behind Britain’s favorite fruit are farmers like Foncho from northern Colombia who work incredibly hard to grow bananas for us on their small family farms.

Are Easter eggs ‘luxury items’ that should not be indulged in during this current global crisis? Senior Media Manager, Martine Parry reflects on her recent trip to Côte d’Ivoire and explains why choosing Fairtrade Easter eggs now is more important than ever.

Imagine having the money you earn from growing cocoa compared to a bar of chocolate.

People are beginning to think differently when it comes to grocery shopping. Not only are we thinking about price, we are also starting to consider how the product was made and the impact it has on both people and the planet.

‘The fight for democracy and justice and the fight against environmental breakdown are one and the same.’ – George Monbiot

‘Does capitalism need a reset? How responsible are corporates for their supply chains? Am I participating in modern slavery unknowingly? From tea bags to smart phones – how often do you think about the people behind your products?’