What is Fair Trade?

A Fair Price for Products
Fairly traded crafts are not certified and no minimum price is set. However, Fair Trade organizations and business that are members of the Fair Trade Federation, like Mayan Traditions, Inc., work to provide crafts cooperatives and artisans with a living wage for their goods within the local context.

For Fair Trade Certified products, like our San Marcos Fair Trade Guatemalan Coffee, this price is set by the Fair Trade Labeling Organization and attempts to cover the cost of production and provide a decent return to the farmer. For coffee, a floor price of $1.26 a pound is set. (On the conventional market, farmers can receive as little as 20 cents per pound.) For certified products, the price attempts to cover the cost of production and provide farmers with a decent standard of living.

Empowerment for Farmers
Fair Trade promotes farmer empowerment. Coffee producers belong to cooperatives or associations that are transparent and democratically controlled by their members. For banana growers and tea pickers working mostly on estates, Fair Trade provides revenue that is invested in a fund, managed and controlled by the farmers, to be used to further the interests of the community through providing education, access to health care etc.

Empowerment for Women
Fair Trade encourages women's participation in the leadership cooperatives. In addition, Fair Trade revenue is often invested in women's programs such as leadership training and women's health initiatives.

Invesment in People and Communities
Many Fair Trade cooperatives reinvest their revenues into strengthening their business and their community through building health clinics, schools, starting scholarship funds, building housing and providing leadership training and women's programs.

Environmental Sustainability
Fair Trade farmers and artisans respect the natural habitat and are encouraged to engage in sustainable production methods. Farmers implement integrated crop management and avoid the use of toxic agrochemicals for pest management. Nearly 85% of Fair Trade Certified coffee is also organic.

Direct, Long-Term Relationships
Importers of Fair Trade Certified products and other fairly traded goods endeavor to establish long-term relationships with producer groups.