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302-251 Bank Street, Ottawa ON K2P 1X3 | Tel 613.563.3351 | TollFree 888.663.FAIR www.transfair.
02 The Latest News
02 News from FLO
03 Elsewhere in the World
03 News from our Partnersin the South
03 Portrait of a Licensee
04 New Fair TradeCertified Products
04 The $5 000 Question05 Calendar/Resources
A new Fair Trade Certified product – inedible, but pleasing to the
senses – discretely entered Canada these past few months, namely
the magnificent roses from Kenya. FLORIMEX, a company in
Burnaby, British Columbia, is the first company in North America
to import and distribute Fair Trade Certified cut flowers.
Most flowers sold in Canada are imported, grown primarly by
women in Latin America (especially Ecuador and Columbia) and East
Africa in immense greenhouses where multiple chemicals are used
to guarantee that the flowers remain perfectly beautiful and resistant
to travel. In spite of the fact that 65 to 70% of workers in the floral
industry are women, they are paid less than men and are more likely
to be hired for temporary positions versus permanent positions.
Over the past few years, many articles and studies have talked
about the difficult and often dangerous working conditions in these
greenhouses: mass use of fertilizers and other chemicals deemed
hazardous for health, long work days, mandatory, often unpaid
overtime, layoffs of pregnant workers, lack of social and medical
benefits. This is the situation in Columbia, where people can work
up to six extra hours a day during the busy season! Few employees
belong to unions, which would allow them to negotiate better
working conditions as a group.
The Fair Trade standards being established by FLO (Fairtrade
Labelling Organizations International) for farms that grow flowers
aim to correct this problem and ensure that workers will have safe
working conditions, a higher income and the possibility of investin
in community projects. In Kenya, the flower industry is in full bloom
and represents the second largest industry to attract foreign dolla
after tea. The Fair Trade market guarantees a minimum price for
flowers as well as a premium varying between 8% and 12%, which
paid to the workers. This money must be invested in projects to
improve the social conditions of employees and their community.
Regien van Beckel from FLORIMEX visited the Fair Trade Certified
farms in Kenya and Tanzania to be able to see with her own eyes th
impact of Fair Trade certification on employees:
April Showers Bring… Fair Trade Certified Flowers!
continued on page 3 >
issue 1spring 2006
Fair Trade EchoesThe TransFair Canada Newsletter
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Fair Trade Echoes
#1
Fair Trade in Canada:The Latest Newsnew director of transfair canada
Since February 2006, Rob Clarke has taken over the duties of
Executive Director at TransFair Canada. Raised in Montreal, Rob has
a degree in Business Administration from Concordia University.
He brings with him 20 years’ experience of working in the electronic
parts distribution sector. Convinced of the relevance of Fair Trade,
Rob became involved in TransFair, because it was both a Canadian
organization and a member of an international network. He wants to
set an example with the organization to influence and inspire the
international network. The Fair Trade community welcomes him!
national fair trade weeks 2006 :
theme: together for fair trade!
Spring brings the fifth edition of National Fair Trade Weeks! Once
again this year, National Fair Trade Weeks will take place between
May 1 and 15, with many festive, educational and tasty events to
promote Fair Trade and the benefits for communities in the South.
This year, TransFair Canada and its partners invite you to:
• Buy the products! The more people buy Fair Trade products in th
North, the more the quality of life will improve for producers and
workers in developing countries.
• Let your voice be heard! More and more of us are choosing
Fair Trade products: So let’s talk and revive word of mouth!
Use all the forums available to us!
• Make Fair Trade a group choice! Let’s promote the use of
Fair Trade products in our companies, our institutions, at
different levels of government, in purchasing groups, etc.!
For more information about programs and available material,please contact [email protected] or
News from FLO(Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International)
the family is growing!
FLO International has a new member: Spain became the 20th
country to take on the national initiative to certify Fair Trade
products. The Asociacion para el sello de comercio justo, in Madrid,
is focusing its efforts on four products: coffee, tea, sugar and cocoa
(chocolate). No doubt many Spanish consumers will join with other
Europeans in promoting Fair Trade.
a big year for the standards unit
2006 will be an important year for the Standards Unit at FLO, which
defines certification criteria for different products and organizations.
Concerned with accurately reflecting the needs and realities of the
field in the South, as well as the constraints of the markets in the
North, members of the Unit will conduct various consultations with
different stakeholders to review and adapt the certification criteria
for small producer organizations, hired employees and certain
products, such as coffee, tea, mangos and sports balls. We will kee
you up to date as changes are made public.
the latest fair trade certified figures worldwid
In December 2005, FLO International had:
• 548 producer organizations in 51 countries
• one million producers
• more than five million people benefiting from
Fair Trade Certification
www.fairtrade.net
TransFair’s staff: Sitting: Hugues Tshibemba,certification; Rob Clarke, executive director;
Heather Weinrich, marketing. Standing up: Nathalie Rodrigue, office manager;
Chantal Havard, communication; Berta Gaulke, accounting
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Elsewhere in the World the swiss and british – champions of fair trade
The figures published in a recent European study on Fair Trade
confirm that Switzerland and England lead the way in Fair Trade
products on their respective markets and in sales volume.
In Switzerland, 47% of bananas, 28% of flowers and 9% of sugar
sold are Fair Trade Certified. In England, 5% of tea, 20% of coffee
and 5.5% of bananas are sold under the banner of Fair Trade. This
is very inspiring for Fair Trade promoters in Canada!
News from Our Partnersin the SouthDon’t miss our next edition – Summer 2006: Our partners in the
South share with us their successes and challenges in producing
and marketing Fair Trade products.
Portrait of a Licenseebridgehead : pioneers of fair trade in canada
People in Ottawa know Bridgehead well… there are five centrally
located cafés. Locals can enjoy Fair Trade Certified coffee and te
from all over the world (19 coffees and 14 teas), as well as home
made food. The company, opened in 1981, has undergone many
changes (the original Bridgehead marketed fair trade arts and
crafts); today, Bridgehead offers quality Fair Trade products,
promotes respectful relations in the North and South, and offers a
warm, relaxed environment.
The company now has about 100 employees, a central kitchen whethe day’s menu is prepared, and a mail-order service so that its coffe
and teas can be delivered all over Canada. Future plans include
opening a sixth café in Ottawa (May 2006), consolidating its corpora
presence in the National Capital Region, and then opening cafés in
other large Canadian cities, such as Toronto and Vancouver.
Congratulations to Bridgehead for bringing high quality to Fair Trad
Certified products in Canada, and best of luck in the future!
“I had already visited flower farms in the past in
Kenya, and I saw entire families living in small
huts without access to drinking water. I was very
surprised by what I saw this time around: workers
living in small cottages, drinking water readily available, a school, and a hospital, everything
very clean and in good condition. Many families
were growing vegetables in their own gardens,
and could sell them to a small local store.
Another farm had a large corn mill, and the corn
was sold in the community. I talked to a few
people who told me that, to be Fair Trade
Certified, a farm must set up education programs,
maternity leave, health programs (HIV/AIDS,
childcare, nutrition, etc.) and refrain from using
a large number of chemical products.”
The first delivery of Fair Trade Certified flowers arrived at FLORIMEX
in November 2005, and was enthusiastically greeted by florists in
the region. In the meanwhile, we hope that Fair Trade flowers will
become available throughout the country in the near future.
April Showers Bring… Fair Trade Certified Flowers!
(continued from page 1)
For more information: www.bridgehead.ca
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Fair Trade Echoes #1
a wonderful innovation: equita offers fair
trade certified coffee that is good for the
environment and shows solidarity
Equita, the commercial arm of Oxfam-Québec, which provides
100% Fair Trade products, has taken further steps in its social
and environmental commitment. Its coffees will now be packaged
in biodegradable pouches by a social integration company.
The secret of these ecological unbleached brown paper bags,
unique to Quebec, is in the polyactic acid film, which provides a
waterproof lining and means that these bags can completely be
turned into compost in as little as 60 days. Made of corn starch,
instead of petroleum, polyactic acid requires 30 to 50% less
fossil fuel to be produced in comparison with traditional plastic
bags. What’s more, carbon dioxide emissions are also reduced
during production.
Equita has been working for nearly a year with Le Transit, a social
economy organization, whose mission is to create quality jobs for
the physically and mentally disabled. Le Transit
takes care of the roasting, packing and freshly
sealing these unique coffees.
This is an inspiring model for
companies in the North willing
to integrate more social and
environmental values to their
work! For more information,
visit www.equita.qc.ca
have you heard about quinoa?
Quinoa is a small, round, highly nutritious grain that grows mainly
the Andes. It has become increasingly popular in the West, since it
is recognized as being rich, versatile and healthy. It is also potentiainteresting for sustainable economic development in the Andrean
highlands, one of the poorest areas of the Americas. Producers wh
sell their quinoa on the Fair Trade market receive a minimum
guaranteed price that is higher than market price, namely
US$711/metric tonne for conventional quinoa and US$861/metric
tonne for organic quinoa. As well, producer cooperatives receive a
additional premium of US$85/metric tonne to invest in community
projects, such as infrastructure and social service projects.
Fair Trade quinoa producers enjoy stable, long-term relationships
with importers registered with the FLO (Fairtrade Labelling
Organizations International).
The Fair Trade Certified quinoa
available in Canada comes from
a co-op in Bolivia, Central
de Cooperativas Agropecuarias
“Operacion Tierra” Ltd., which has
273 members. Most of their quinoa
is also certified organic. Fair Trade
Certified quinoa is marketed by Altura
Trading, a company in Montreal. It is sold
under the brand Gogo Quinoa, and is found in
bulk and as pasta. For a list of retailers and other informatiovisit: www.gogoquinoa.com
Note: As of April 2006, TransFair Canada certifies coffee, tea, coco
sugar, rice, quinoa, spices, fruit, sports balls and cut flowers.
The $5000 QuestionDear Readers… this column belongs to you! The world of fair trade is vast, dynamic, diverse and ever-changing. It can be complex because of the
issues it raises. Do you have a question that has been bugging you for a while? Whether you have long promoted Fair Trade or are newly converte
we would love to hear from you. In each issue, we will answer a question that we receive. Therefore, we ask you to go to your keyboard or mail
or call us and send your questions to: [email protected]
New Fair Trade Certified Products
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Fair Trade Echoes #1
Mark your Calendar
april 2006 April 16: Easter Celebration. Take advantage of Easter time to
promote Fair Trade Certified chocolate. Visit the TransFair site for a
list of companies that produce and distribute Fair Trade chocolate in
various forms and flavours! www.transfair.ca
may 2006May 1 to 15, 2006: National Fair Trade Weeks in Canada. Two weeks
of festivities and gatherings for Fair Trade. Advertise your events on
the TransFair site by contacting: [email protected]
May 13, 2006: World Fair Trade Day, under the theme “Fair Trade
Organizations Now!” For more information, visit: www.wftday.org
june 2006 June will be a month of discussion, networking and reflection for
the various Canadian Fair Trade stakeholders who will take part in
one of the conferences organized by universities:
June 2 to 4: Fair Trade: People, the Planet, and Profits, a conference
organized by the Canadian Student Fair Trade Network, Canadian
Association for Studies in Co-operation and the Society for
Socialist Studies at York University in Toronto. All information
available at www.fedcan.ca/congress2006/index.htm
June 19 to 21: Second International Colloquium on Fair Trade
and Sustainable Development, organized by the Chair of Social
Responsibility and Sustainable Development at UQAM in Montreal.
To register or for more information on the program, visit
www.crsdd.uqam.ca
Send us your events for our listing at [email protected]
Resources and Interesting Link
new networks and tools to promotestudent’s involvement
Since the beginning of Fair Trade in Canada, students have played
key role in all the work involved in helping others understand what
Fair Trade is, as well as in the promotion of Fair Trade products.
To be able to pool these ideas, resources and efforts, a new netwo
was set up a year and a half ago: the Canadian Student Fair Trade
Network . An initiative of two university students in Nova Scotia, th
network quickly grew and now has several regional representative
For more information on activities and other ways of becoming
involved, go to: www.fairtradenetwork.ca
Equiterre has put online a complete, indispensable guide for all
students who want to promote Fair Trade and have Fair Trade produc
available on their campus. Le Guide d’action pour un commerce
équitable ( Action guide for Fair Trade ) (currently only in French;
English version to come) has been designed for student committees
teachers, students and activists who want to make our planet a
world that is fairer and more equitable. This practical and dynam
guide is full of good ideas and provides examples of the steps to
follow to “convert” your area to Fair Trade. You can download it at:
http://www.equiterre.org/equitable/guide/
design: Angela Delodder, sprout graphic des
