Comments on Fair Trade Beginners and More: Celebrating SERRV and Signing up for the Next 60 Y...

HI Jackie, Thanks so much! Your response was cert...

2009-09-21T00:11:50.230-04:00

HI Jackie,

Thanks so much! Your response was certainly worth waiting for. I can now understand what you were referring to as 'exclusionary producer practices'.

It is an interesting and challenging issue. I imagine confidence by producers in their partnerships arrangements with others in the supply chain would help in some way, but it is like most fair trading issues multifacited!!

I really appreciate your sharing your understandings!

Regards
Scott

Scott and all, Thanks for your patience and for th...

2009-09-20T14:24:44.202-04:00

Scott and all, Thanks for your patience and for the question.

First I want to say that I haven't been "in the field" for about a year now and so I am more and more having to rely on second-hand assessments of the state of the movement in producer countries. But the specific reference I was making about producers sometimes excluding each other comes from a trusted colleague, a trader, who works primarily in India. He was lamenting the catch 22 that some artisans find themselves in as they try to access a growing Fair Trade marketplace.

While it is true that the demand for Fair Trade is growing and that theoretically means that more producers will be able to sell their products to meet demand, what is sometimes happening is that those associations who hold contracts are not eager or able to welcome new artisans into their business or NGO. One reason may be because the "new" artisans can't yet meet quality or volume requirements. Also my colleague's experience was that sometimes the producer groups who hold contracts want to "protect their market share" as it were. To add new artisans to their roles would be to dilute the income generation for existing members.

I raised this dynamic not to point a particular finger or to discredit artisan groups in general, but more to acknowledge that the Fair Trade system is not perfect. I also want to try and make sure we recognize that all those involved in the value chain are subject to difficult decisions and choices.

The principles of Fair Trade are very appealing on many levels but their practice is sometimes hobbled by all-too-human realities. In our passion for Fair Trade I don't want to mythologize producers or aggrandize FT businesses. That said, I still think Fair Trade points us in the right direction and helps us find the best way forward.

Hope this clarification helps and I'd be interested in any reactions.

Jackie

Hi scott, i'll post when I get back from vacation....

2009-09-15T07:26:35.974-04:00

Hi scott, i'll post when I get back from vacation. But in the meantime maybe otherreaders have their own examples....?

Hi Jacki, What an inspiration SERRV has been and ...

2009-09-15T01:55:04.469-04:00

Hi Jacki,

What an inspiration SERRV has been and remains for those of us just beginning our fair trade support journey.

Unfortunately, I too sense the challenges that confront the positive progression of a fairer trading system for all.

I was particularly interested in your comment about the challenge of "exclusionary practices among producers". While I have some understanding of the other challenges I am not sure what you meant by this challenge. Would you be willing to share more about what you undestand by these 'exclusionary producer practices'

I was also affirmed by Sally's great story and live in hope!

Many Thanks
Scott