Regular trade isn't fair

If trade protected people and the environment already—we wouldn’t exist. Current global trading models are built on an imbalance of power where it is socially acceptable to sacrifice people for profit. 

A decent standard of living—one that covers basic needs and supports an existence worthy of human dignity—is a human right, yet many smallholder famers live on less than $2 per day.

We know that unfair trade is the root of poverty. When farmers earn only enough money to survive, they have little capacity to focus on building better lives for themselves and their communities. Fairtrade is working to change this.  

What is smallholder farming?

The impact of Fairtrade

Fairtrade has real-life implications for real people like Johnny, a banana farmer in Ecuador and member of the AsoGuabo Cooperative.

Johnny grew up admiring his grandfather who farmed for a living. Despite experiencing first-hand the challenges of farming (grueling labor and lack of stable selling prices to name a few), he knew he wanted to take on the family tradition. So Johnny went on to study aquaculture engineering and microbiology.

He earned his degree and has improved his farmland by converting to organic production and implementing aquaculture practices. Johnny’s hard work and innovative spirit, combined with stability of Fairtrade pricing, has created a situation where he can really thrive as a farmer.

Hear from Johnny directly!