Fair trade, noun: A strategy for fighting poverty: Farmers in Africa, Latin America and Asia can effectively improve their living and working conditions through fair trade standards – guaranteed minimum prices significantly higher than the world market level plus fixed premium payments and compliance with social and environmental criteria. They get a stable income, access to the world market and long-term and direct trade relations. In addition, they receive support with building schools, medical care, advancing women, expanding local infrastructure and many other social projects. Certification with the TransFair seal, which guarantees compliance with the standards and makes the products immediately recognizable to consumers. Originated through the fair trade movement in the ’60s and ’70s, where Nicaraguan coffee was sold by activists in ‘third world shops,’ churches, etc. Through the fair trade seal, valid throughout the world, fair trade has received an enormous boom over the past ten years. In 2012 over 9.322 tons of certified fair trade coffee were sold in Germany. That’s 6% more than in 2011 and corresponds to a market share of 2.2% for fair trade coffee. see:
