All fair trade shops are required to promote and offer fair trade education. Besides attending preschools and schools, the Chemnitz fair trade shop offers lifelong learning workshops for adults. From cocoa over coffee to India and spices – the fair trade shop in Chemnitz covers a great area of fair trade topics. Mrs. Mahlendorff says that the courses were always methodologically adjusted to the target audience. Children will for instance hear a story and either smell spices or make something themselves.
Despite the fact that a growing number of supermarkets also offers several fair trade products, the fair trade shop is still in a niche position with its large range of fairly produced goods. Moreover, products offered in the fair trade shop need to follow certain strict criteria. Whereas supermarkets might also sell fair trade products with only 10% or 20% stake in actually fairly traded ingredients, fair trade shops only offered products which are 100% fair trade, Mrs. Mahlendorff adds. “We sell products from the three main importers GEPA, El Puente and dwp and from 60 smaller producers. Those are constantly inspected by a committee.”
Despite the fact that a growing number of supermarkets also offers several fair trade products, the fair trade shop is still in a niche position with its large range of fairly produced goods. Moreover, products offered in the fair trade shop need to follow certain strict criteria. Whereas supermarkets might also sell fair trade products with only 10% or 20% stake in actually fairly traded ingredients, fair trade shops only offered products which are 100% fair trade, Mrs. Mahlendorff adds. “We sell products from the three main importers GEPA, El Puente and dwp and from 60 smaller producers. Those are constantly inspected by a committee.”
The three main importers: dwp, GEPA and El Puente
Fair trade products guarantee their producers minimum wage, which surmounts the amount paid for conventional goods. In addition to developing the plantation workers’ self-conscience and independence, fair trade products combatted child labor, Mrs. Mahlendorff mentions. Moreover, fair trade refrains from employing middlemen so that more money directly reaches the producers. Mrs. Mahlendorff adds that long-term trade agreements guaranteed producers a fixed price which was not subject to change throughout the years of the agreement. Products characterized by a high price volatility, such as coffee, have largely benefitted from long-term agreements. Besides providing pre-financing opportunities to producers, fair trade products also fund social projects.
A range of products from the fair trade shop in Chemnitz
Unlike the majority of conventional plantations, those which are fair trade refrain from growing large monocultures. Instead, they plant a range of different plant species to avoid soil erosion caused by monocultures. “Palm trees can be found in the midst of coffee plantations, for better protection, but also banana trees.” Mrs. Mahlendorff adds that the majority of fair trade coffee or chocolate is also labelled organic and thus did not use any form of pesticides. Nowadays about 50% of products sold in fair trade shops do not only correspond to fair trade criteria but are also certified organic.
Ever since they have been founded, fair trade shops have largely contributed to a greater awareness of the benefits of fairly traded goods. Not only do fair trade products support smaller farmers and provide funding for social projects, they also guarantee improved living and working conditions for the farmers. “Buying fair trade means buying better quality. I am responsible for all the people on earth, and therefore people should buy in fair trade shops,” Mrs. Mahlendorff concludes.
Ever since they have been founded, fair trade shops have largely contributed to a greater awareness of the benefits of fairly traded goods. Not only do fair trade products support smaller farmers and provide funding for social projects, they also guarantee improved living and working conditions for the farmers. “Buying fair trade means buying better quality. I am responsible for all the people on earth, and therefore people should buy in fair trade shops,” Mrs. Mahlendorff concludes.