Does anyone here buy Fairtrade products (things like tea, coffee, chocolate)? I ask this because Marks and Spencer have announced that they are going to start selling only Fairtrade coffee in its coffee shops.

Fairtrade means farmers in developing countries get paid more than the market price for their products so they can improve their working and living conditions.

Most of the supermarkets offer a range of Fairtrade items, at a higher price than normal goods.

I will admit I try to buy Fairtrade items, but often they are not available in the small local shop, or I forget and just pick up the shop's own brand.

I would if they were more widely available or more was known about Fair Trade products, where can you get them?

The main supermarkets sell Fairtrade groceries such as teabags, coffee, chocolate. Some also sell Fairtrade fruit such as bananas.

Costa Coffee and Starbucks sell Fairtrade coffee in their outlets.

www.fairtrade.org.uk has some more information.

Co-op have quite a good range of Fairtrade products. Always buy there bananas when they have them in. And there own brand fairtrade chocolate doesn't taste too bad.

No, I buy Farrers online, the best coffee and best herbal around. I do on occasion buy Fairtrade Chocolate, and if in a coffee shop thats what ill go for so yeh and no.

I don't like to sound selfish, which is exactly what I will sound, but no I don't because they are too expensive.

I think that fairly traded goods are a slight con. For example, a tea picker would have agreed to work for the amount they are paid by their employers, so a picker who works for a fair trade company must think they've won the jackpot.

I admit though, I'm not very well read up on the subject, so feel free to post some links that might convince me otherwise.

Most Tea pickers don’t have the luxury of being able to choose their careers. In impoverished areas people will generally take any job they can get. This is why coffee and tea can be so cheap for us because companies know they can pay farmers and pickers a bare minimal but it will still be their best offer. Many people see this as being exploitative and that is why fair trade initiatives receive so much support. Also normal prices change rapidly depending on market forces but with fair trade the farmers are guaranteed a fixed price for their goods, this price is often not massively more then they would normally receive but the fact it is a guaranteed price on which they won’t be under cut is very significant.

Fair Trade is more expensive, although the price is coming down constantly, and that puts people of it, but if you can afford to pay that little bit extra every now and again it really does make a big difference. I look at it as making a charity donation.

Their is a lot of good information on this site if you are interested

http://www.maketradefair.com

I don't understand what makes Fair Trade good more expensive.
Surely its a case of if they make these things cheaper, more people will buy, thus reducing operating costs..bish bosh..everyones happy.
Its the same with organic food. Make it cheaper so its readily available to everyone so making us all extra healthy and a lot more happier.
It seems all the things that will actually benefit everyone in the long term are more expensive and out of a lot of people's reach.

I may be mistaken, but I understood that the reason Fair Trade products are more expensive is that the overseas workers who actually work to produce the goods are paid a fairer wage than the ones who work to produce the cheaper products, many of whom get a very very low wage for the work they do.

I do occasionally buy the fair trade products, but not most of the time.

It’s because it’s more expensive to produce in the first place. Things can only be sold cheaply if they are cheap to make

I once saw Chiquita bananas trying to be passed off as Fairtrade in a large supermarket. :confused:

I sell some FairTrade products in my online shop, although i am hoping to increase the range soon.

Culpeper in Orchard Square in town sell a lovely line of Green & Blacks Fair Trade chocolate. It's more expensive, but SOOOO yummy!!! :P

The Green and Blacks (fair trade) Coco powder is considerably better than the Cadburys equivilent.

You get a proper choc-hit from that stuff.

Buying Fairtade stuff also gives you the moral high ground. :-)

Fair trade is generally more expensive and has already been said - with good reason to ensure those involved in, for example picking tea, get a half decent wage. They don't get a choice.

I always buy the standard fair trade stuff (choc, tea, coffee etc) as I don't think it is actually that much more...and not having to buy food for a large family - it doesn't add v much to my food bill at all. All the decent supermarkets stock it now.

I just can't believe that everyone can use the same excuse tho - 'its too expensive'. Whilst I appreciate it may be for some people (and so be it for now) if those that could afford the extra, what only 50p for a jar of coffee, bought fair trade stuff then the price would I think begin to fall...

And more to point the chocolate is actually proper chocolate and taste delish!

i buy fairtade products as often as possible, even handicrafts and clothing when i can find it, but mainly sugar, tea, coffee, chocolate and snack bars. in the case of these items, then if it isn't fair trade, i don't buy it.