One of the many things that has impressed us here in the UK is the use of fair trade items. Fair Trade certification insures that the product that you purchase has been fair to the farmer originally producing the goods. For example
farmers who produce goods in this program such as bananas, coco for chocolate, coffee, tea, cotton, and a host of other products are paid a fair price, a living wage, for their work and products. Watch this video and see how Fair Trade products impact communities.
The fair trade movement has spread here quite well. Our church in Durham has a fair trade shop where people can purchase chocolates, sweets, tea, coffee and sugar. There are a large number of products in the stores as well which bear this fair trade label.
In fact I can not pass a single section of the grocery store that doesn’t contain products with this symbol. In the states we often purchased fair trade products from the United Methodist Committee on Relief UMCOR.
http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Programs/Global-Development/Fair-Trade
In what ways have you seen fair trade in action where you live? Are you able to find products in your stores that have a fair trade symbol? When we return to the states I want to do better about looking for them and requesting them from places we shop in America. We can all be better stewards to the earth and the people working on it.
Cheers,
Beth
GILESGATE JOURNAL 
How much does that fair trade sticker cost a company. When I worked for a food company before i was married it cost the company $25,000.00 per year to have a Kosher sticker. That would have paid an additional employee for a year.
I do not know specifically the answer to your question. It appears that the cost is in the requirements. There are specific requirements that must be met in order to use this seal. This quote is from their website.
“There is no cost associated with being audited by the Fairtrade Foundation. However, this is currently under review and audit fees may be introduced for non-licensees. In addition to this, the Fairtrade Foundation reserves the right to charge for audit costs in exceptional circumstances.
Whilst there is currently no initial registration fee or annual fee, the Fairtrade Foundation reserves the right to introduce a fee at any time..”
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/for_business/fairtrade_requirements/fairtrade_standards.aspx
UK Cadbury has now gone Fairtrade
“Cadbury and the Fairtrade Foundation today announced plans to achieve Fairtrade certification for Cadbury Dairy Milk, the nation’s top selling chocolate bar, by end of Summer 2009. This groundbreaking move will result in the tripling of sales of cocoa under Fairtrade terms for cocoa farmers in Ghana, both increasing Fairtrade cocoa sales for existing certified farming groups, as well as opening up new opportunities for thousands more farmers to benefit from the Fairtrade system.
Cadbury Chief Executive, Todd Stitzer, says, “This is an historic moment for our company. I am proud that the nation’s favourite chocolate bar will display the FAIRTRADE Mark. I was in Ghana last month and saw how vital it is that businesses support their partners and the communities they live in. We believe that by joining forces with the Fairtrade Foundation, we can further improve living standards and conditions for farmers and farming communities, and create a sustainable supply of high quality cocoa for Cadbury.”
It seems to be more about meeting standards than fees. I don’t know but I hope that helps. 😉
Beth