Canadian Fair Trade Ag Produce

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

We have a perfect opportunity to start with a "Canadian Fair Trade" Grain system on Agri-ville. We can expand this to beef, hogs, and other produce as we get better known.

This was up on my "http://sympatico.msn.ca/" Explorer page this morning about chocolate:

"Today's Picks
Not so dark chocolate"

"The Sweetest Chocolate
The next time you're struck with a chocolate craving, consider giving Fair Trade chocolates a try. They're a delicious alternative to the treats you may be used to.

Fair Trade Certified
Like other Fair Trade products, Fair Trade chocolates are produced in a socially conscious manner. In Canada, Transfair--an independent, non-profit agency--certifies Fair Trade products.

In the case of chocolate, Fair Trade certification means that producers:
-- buy directly from farmers or co-operatives that grow the cocoa (the base ingredient for chocolate); and
-- pay a price that covers the actual cost of cocoa production.

The Fair Trade system also:
-- encourages safer and sustainable cocoa-farming practices that reduce the need for pesticides; and
-- provides consumers a trustworthy guarantee that no forced or abusive child labour was used in making the product.


Bitter Chocolate Facts

Most cocoa farmers receive about a penny for a typical $1 chocolate bar.
In 2001, the International Labour Organization reported child slavery existed on many cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast, the source of 43 per cent of the world's cocoa.
In 2002, the world's largest chocolate producers pledged to make their chocolate products slavery free by 2005. They have not lived up to this pledge.
Growing Popularity
The good news is that more Canadians are buying into the Fair Trade ideal. In 2005, Canadians bought more than $3 million worth of Fair Trade cocoa products (compared to less than $500,000 in 2002).

Not sure where to buy Fair Trade chocolate? Check out TransFair for lists of Canadian retailers selling Fair Trade Certified products in stores and over the Internet.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. As followers of Jesus, we are motivated by God's love to serve all people regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity."

We can do exactly the same thing with our grains... rate grain marketers, and be the body that certifies if A Canadian Marketer is trading in "Canadian Fair Trade Grain".

How about it; are we up to the challenge?

[wilagro]

Sure, why not? I would buy some fair-trade bread, canola oil, beer, butter, eggs, meat, etc. Just tell me where I can get them.

After that, I want fair-trade cars, trucks, tractors, combines, etc.

After all of this, how about some fair-trade taxes. Might as well go whole hog.

What a wonderful world we will soon have...hallelujah!!!

[grassfarmer]

That was a rather interesting post TOM. Cocoa, like many of the basic ingredients of the global food supply is produced on a socially unsustainable basis - the people growing the food do not get paid enough to sustain their livelihood and environment without damaging either or both. This is highlighted by the comment that cocoa farmers receive about a penny for a typical $1 chocolate bar. This is not a lot different to the share of retail price beef and grain producers get in Canada.

We already direct market beef to consumers for this reason but are still held to ransom to an extent by the high cost of butchering decreed by the Government at the behest of large packers with their anti-competition motives.

The idea that consumers could "buy directly from farmers or co-operatives and ...pay a price that covers the actual cost of ... production." obviously makes sense, the thing that kills me is that it's appearing from you Tom, on this board - has the light just come on after reading the truths the NFU has been promoting for decades? This is exactly the stuff you guys are usually jumping up and down about shrieking "communist!, lefties!, anti-free enterprisers!" and all the other silly taunts. Have you finally just seen the parallel between the poor third world agricultural producer and the commodity producer in Canada? - whether they are being shafted by a Cocoa exporter in Africa or your local ADM or Cargill grain buyer.
Or is it just another angle to start an anti CWB thread when you comment about rating grain marketers?

[Barleyman]

After more than 25 years of farming 1 thing that i know is that i will never listen to or follow anything or ever join the National Farmers Union. They are all about yesterday, and promoting going nowhere.

[grassfarmer]

So did you not understand the obvious connection I was highlighting between Tom's post and NFU policy?

[agstar77]

I can't believe T4 is spouting socialist left wing rhetoric. The only way farmers will receive a fair price for their production is to starve a few rich folks, oh but wait aren't they the ones in power?

[cottonpicken]

Tom are you roman catholic?
What did you think about what the pope said recently?(that being the roman catholic church is the only true church)

[TOM4CWB]

Dear Agri-villers;

I just finished my CTEAM course with the George Morris Centre, and one thing Larry Martin has been showing... clearly as much is lost in supply chain efficeincy... as the total profit avaliable to participants now.

This is not a left wing tirade by any standard. It is a simple call to deal fairly with people of integrity... each knowing the survival of other members in the supply chain is crutial to launch and maintain a great product.

We had presentations for CTEAM from Great Britian, Australia, Meat marketing in these countries shows this is the future of effective marketing IMHO. No legislation binding anyone to do anything...

Please explain to me why a system that is a "Choice" and purely voluntary... would be at odds with anything I have stated here on Agri-ville before!

Logic, and common sense economics are what will drive this kind of economic relationship... I am quite surprised at your reaction! THis is the essence of practical marketing 101... a fair price paid to the producer of a high quality product!

Why would I ever intend to grow and market our farms produce any other way?

[malleefarmer]

All good in theory tom but price concious consumers will not to much of a premium,for your chocolate despite being better quality.
The hip pocket rules in the supermarket

[TOM4CWB]

Mallee,

The world is changing!

Biofuels clearly are a sign of this... as is the expansion of Organic food production.

Buying 'Local' is another example of an EU trend that is changing the way produce is grown.

The consumer under 30 has a very different priority than the people who have answered this thread so far.

I bought small cars for our farm that burn 5L/100km for one reason. Can't burn farm fuel... but who cares... it only costs a little humble pie to drive them! We also buy local when possible. We can do much more with many less resourses...

And today there are folks who appreciate the growers who take the time & effort, to grow food in a responsible manner!

I don't know where you came up with the Roman Catholic/Pope angle... I don't see them as having a monopoly on loving our neighbour as ourselves and/or respecting one another!

[parsley]

The hip pocket also rules with those having a large disposable income.

In my ordinary everyday experience, dealing directly with consumers, the folks maing lots of money don't care whether or not they spend 2.3% ocf their income on food, or 2.6% of their income ion food, fbut the result makes a HUGE difference to my bottom line.

The MAIN point is that NO coerceon is involved here. It's a voluntary relationship. That's the concept that agstar cannot grasp. He wants jail and fines,and he wants to FORCE people to co-operate.

True organics is based upon my customer chosing to deal with me.

It's worked marvelously.And I'm glad Tom, that you understand the basis of a good relationship. Trust, willingness to co-operate, respect, and CHOICE.

This has never been the National Farmers' Union point of view.

Parsley

[agstar77]

Parsley, the organic " movement" is based on fear and ignorance .People with large disposable incomes can afford to satisfy their fears no matter how misguided . I give full credit to you for taking advantage of this . We should all learn to play on consumers basic emotions to get a fair return. Like I said before hunger has a way of extracting a premium. Good old supply and demand except we have not learned to choke off supply.