I am at my Caffe-Society store today checking that all is well. More telephone calls later and e.mails.

I got my copy of Fair Comment today, the publication produced by the Fairtrade Foundation. I think it is helpful to high light again some of the key aspects of Fairtrade. The Fairtrade mark that you see on more and more products these days is an independent consumer certification label that appears on products that are certified in accordance with Fairtrade standards. Fairtrade Standards -Minimum social, economic and enviromental requirements, which producers must meet to be certified, and progress requirements that encourage continuous improvement in these areas to develop farmers organisations or the terms and conditions of estate workers.

Fairtrade Certified Producer Group : Either an association of farmers or a company dependent on hired labour that produces one or more commodities for which there are Fairtrade Standards and that has been certified to meet those standards. Once certified, they are added to the Fairtrdae producer list and registered compnaies can buy from them under Fairtrdae terms. Some Fairtrade certified producer groups are able to sell all of their product under FAIRTRADE terms while others sell only a very small percentage. It is only by increasing the amount sold as Fairtrade that producer groups are able to receive a staedy stream of additional income to improve their lives.

Fairtrade minimum price: This defines the minimum price that a buyer of Fairtrade Products has to pay the producer. The minimum price is set following a consultative process with Fairtrade producers and traders and guarantees that producers receive a price which covers the cost of sustaniable production. When the market price is higher than the Fairtrdae minimum price the market price is paid.

Fairtrade premium : The Fairtrade premium is money paid on top of the fairtrade minmum price that is invested in social, enviromental and economic development projectsdecided upon democratically by a committee of producers within the organisation or of workers on a plantation. Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International.

CO2 Report - 24 miles travel by car