Fair Trade is built on right relationships--direct human relationships between consumers and producers that respect human dignity, promote economic justice and cultivate global solidarity.

Fair Trade empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By guaranteeing minimum floor prices and social premiums, Fair Trade enables producers to invest in their farms and communities and protect the environment. But Fair Trade is much more than a fair price.

Fair Trade principles include:

• Fair prices: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
  
• Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
  
• Direct trade: Importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to strengthen their organizations and become competitive players in the global economy.
  
• Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to use their Fair Trade revenues.
  
• Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
  
• Environmental sustainability: The Fair Trade certification system strictly prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), promotes integrated farm management systems that improve soil fertility, and limits the use of harmful agrochemicals in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

JCU Campus Ministry partners with Equal Exchange and Catholic Relief Services to offer the JCU community an assortment of fair trade coffees, teas, and chocolates. Products can be delivered to your office here on campus or sent U.S. mail to locations near and far for a nominal shipping fee.

Fair Trade products are sold to support student organizations and Immersion Experience participants.

In August of 2007, JCU Campus Ministry received a $5,500 grant from Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Fund to support the work of two "fair trade interns". The intention of the internship program is to increase education and promotion of fair trade amongst the JCU community, especially the undergraduate student population. This paid internship allows two undergraduate students an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the fair trade model and certification while also developing their abilities to educate and organize around a social justice topic.

The fair trade interns will be working with student organizations, resident assistants, resident ministers, and other people at JCU to promote and educate about fair trade.

Click here to learn more about the Fair Trade Internship Program.

Scott Zimmerman '08

Hometown:  Mayfield Heights, OH
Major:  Mathematics
Why be a fair trade intern?:  John Carroll gave me my first taste of Jesuit beliefs and Ignatian spirituality, and I was really inspired by the social justice aspect of the teachings.  I feel like everyone has their part to do, and I felt a strong inclination toward Fair Trade.  I didn't really know too much about it before taking the position, and I feel like it is a great opportunity for me to learn about Fair Trade and to educate others on the topic.

Natalie Terry '10

Hometown: Wynantskill, NY
Major: Religious Studies and Sociology
Concentration: Catholic Studies
Why be a fair trade intern?: After beginning classes at John Carroll in the Fall of 2006 I was immediately introduced to the mission of the university, to be a man or woman for others. Upon hearing this I became more interested in learning about how I could become that woman for others. It was during this time that I became immersed in educating myself about social justice, a concept I did not know much about. Social justice is all about working with others for social change, it is about always doing the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do, fair trade embodies this idea of social justice. Making the choice to purchase fair trade goods means making a decision to support the people behind the product. Kwnbena Ohemeng Tinyase, the Managing Director of Kuapa Kokoo cocoa farmers cooperative in Ghana once said, "We all have to go shopping. Fair trade is just shopping with respect."

The Fair Trade Internship will provide a new way for students at John Carroll to learn about fair trade and social justice. I felt called to take part in the internship to be a voice for the voiceless and to cultivate the call to be a woman for others.