What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is a movement to help producers in developing countries gain fair access to the world market.  Fairtrade involves campaigning for a more just trading system.  It also involves helping small producers avoid the middlemen who often exploit them and sell their goods directly to consumers in commercially developed countries such as Ireland.

In order to help consumers identify fairly traded goods, a 'Fairtrade Mark' was developed.  When you see this logo on the left you will know that the people who made the products concerned have had a fair return for their work.

“Fairtrade provides us with security when the market price falls, and allows us to survive as small farmers. Without it, we would be swallowed by large scale agriculture where we would end up as farm labourers.” (quote from Danilo Nunez, sesame farmer, Del Campo, Nicaragua)

 Photos courtesy of Fairtrade Labelling International