| Fairtrade Facts | Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. If a product is part of the Fairtrade system, farmers are:
• Paid a guaranteed minimum price that covers costs and exceeds the world market price
• Given a premium to invest in their local community
• Guaranteed long-term and more direct trading relations
• Helped to improve their working conditions and their environment
• Members of democratic organisations, usually a co-operative What is the FAIRTRADE Mark? The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on UK food products as a guarantee that their producers have had a bette deal. * FAB = Fairtrade Association Birmingham |
 | | Image courtesy of Fairtrade Foundation |
FAB (Fairtrade Association Birmingham) is a city wide network of people, businesses, community organisations, charities, faith groups, the City Council and others committed to tackling poverty and guaranteeing growers and producers in developing countries a fair return for their crops and goods. What is Fairtrade? A Fairtrade label guarantees that farmers, growers and small-scale producers in developing countries are getting a fair deal, enabling them to have more control over their lives, better education, improved health care and respect. How do we become a Fairtrade city?
 | | Image courtesy of Fairtrade Foundation |
The goal is to gain Fairtrade City status for Birmingham, an award from the Fairtrade Foundation, which means a city wide Fairtrade commitment. The target of 100 shops and 50 cafes selling and serving Fairtrade is virtually complete, but FAB hopes that in a city of a million people and strong links to the developing world, we can do better that. Who’s paying for your latte?
 | | Maggie Jo in Nicaragua |
Maggie Jo from Edgbaston has lived with a coffee farming family in Nicaragua. She's seen first hand how Fairtrade has made a difference to their lives. Read about Maggie's trip to Nicaragua using the link on the right>>> Fairtrade in the workplace FAB are urging employers and employees to opt for Fairtrade in offices across the city. If your business, works canteens and events organizers who already offer Fairtrade options FAB would like to hear from you, also those who would like information to help them switch. Relax with Fairtrade
 | | Image courtesy of Fairtrade Foundation |
Meeting friends for a coffee? taking a break from shopping? You can sip Fairtrade coffee or tea in over 50 Birmingham cafes and there are nearly one hundred shops across the city selling at least two Fairtrade items. Visit the Fairtrade Birmingham website for a a full directory of shops and cafés campaigning for a for a fairer world by stocking fair trade goods: www.fairtradebirmingham.org.uk. What you can do By switching to Fairtrade you would see little or no change in your cupboards: coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, nuts, honey, wine, cake and biscuits, flowers, and cotton clothes are everyday goods brought in a normal week. However, people in developing countries would feel a great positive impact from a guaranteed price and long-term contract. More children would go to school, clean water becomes available and people are able to invest in their lives, not live from day-to-day.
You can:
 | | Image courtesy of Fairtrade Foundation |
- buy fairly traded products
- always ask for Fair Trade when you go shopping or out to eat and drink
- encourage family, friends and workplaces to buy fairly traded goods.
- gain Fairtrade status for your place of work, school, college, community or faith group.
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For more information visit the Fairtrade Birmingham website:- www.fairtradebirmingham.org.uk or call 0121 303 5449. * FAB (Fairtrade Association Birmingham) | 
