What is Fairtrade? Look at the FAIRTRADE Mark. It says Guarantees a better deal for Third World producers. That is exactly what it does! The Third World is used to describe poorer countries in The Americas, Africa and Asia. Many farmers in these developing countries have to contend with fluctuating prices that may not even cover what it costs to produce their crop. So Fairtrade promises a stable price which covers their production costs, along with a premium that their organisation will be able to reinvest either in the business or local community schemes. Definition of Fairtrade Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership, which aims at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by awareness raising and by campaigning. Can we trust Fairtrade? Yes! because: A clear set of standards defining the Fairtrade terms is available to consumers and producers. These terms are devised internationally by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO).
South Africa Du Toitskloof In 2005 the Co-op sourced five new own-label wines from the Du Toitskloof cooperative in South Africa. Each of these wines are from vineyards at the foot of the majestic Du Toiskloof mountains in the Western Cape Province. Du Toitskloof Wine Cellar (DTK) was established by six wine farmers as a co-operative winery in 1962. Today it has 22 members, many of them second-generation descendants of the founding members. They all live in a close-knit community within a radius of 10 km from the cellar and all take a close interest in its activities.
South Africa Du Toitskloof The Co-operative has officially presented its third Fairtrade donation cheque to the Du Toitskloof wine co-operative in South Africa. The ethical retailer handed over a staggering 131,000, which has been generated through sales of its Fairtrade South African wine range. As well as receiving a guaranteed Fairtrade price for their grapes, the growers receive an additional social premium set by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation, which The Co-operative uniquely matches, thereby increasing the money the growers receive through the sale of the wines to fund community initiatives. This is one of the largest Fairtrade projects in the world and consists of 22 farms which support adults and children. Some of the money, and future instalments, will fund purchase of 37 hectares of vineyard. This will allow the co-operative to expand and produce more grapes and, in turn, more wine. This will grow the collective and allow them to fund even more projects that will benefit the entire community.
The Wines Fairtrade Sparkling Brut, Chardonnay, 2008, 12.5%, Du Toitskloof, South Africa Cape Reserve, Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, 11.5%, De Toitskloof, South Africa
Chile - Los Robles In 1939 a great earthquake devastated the Central and Southern part of Chile but it encouraged farmers to unite themselves and to make them grow common roots in the Curicó valley. Upon the ruins Viña Los Robles emerged, an enterprise that by the 1940 s was building modern wine cellars, learning the excellence in agriculture and maturing the science of wine.
Chile - Los Robles In 2004 Los Robles wine was awarded the Fairtrade mark, since then the Los Robles cooperative has grown, increased productivity and as a result, improved the livelihoods of the many hundreds of families who depend on it. The Co-operative is owned by 67 members (small and medium size wine growers it employs between 80 and 90 people all year round and up to 250 during harvest time. There are not many wine coops left in Chile today the Pinochet dictatorship put paid to most of them in the 1970s. Los Robles, established in 1943, is one that survived. www.losrobles.cl
The Wines Fairtrade Torrontes Chardonnay, 2008, 12.5%, La Riojana, Famatina Valley, Argentina Fairtrade Merlot Rosé, 2008, 13.5%, Curicó Valley, Chile
Argentina - La Riojana La Riojana Coop began its activities in the Famatina Valleys, province of La Rioja, in 1940, under the principles of cooperative policy and competitive management. The company is comprised by 451 members (around 80% of the small and medium producers in the province of La Rioja) distributed throughout six districts.. La Riojana produces sparkling wine, varietals, organic wines and 100% organic grape juice. All of them are sold in the main international markets and also commercialized in Argentina, through a complete distribution network. La Riojana Coop. believes in the qualification and full development of human resources as key aspects of its management system, which allows the company to unify its vision, mission and objectives with solid work teams as a basis.
Argentina - La Riojana The La Riojana Estate in Argentina gained it s Fairtrade certification in 2006 and, as the largest co-operative in Argentina, assists many smaller communities in the region. As well as receiving the Fairtrade premium for their grapes, wine producers in La Riojana benefit from an additional premium paid by the Co-operative social projects the first year s funds were used to install a new water facility for 381 inhabitants of Tilimuqui, previously to this water was delivered once a week in a truck. Following the success of the water facility, work has begun on a second Fairtrade project to fund a new secondary school for children aged 13 to 18 living in the Chilecito region. http://www.lariojana.com.ar/
The Wines Fairtrade Shiraz, 2007, 13%, La Riojana, Famatina Valley, Argentina Fairtrade Bonarda Shiraz, 2008, 13%, La Riojana, Famatina Valley, Argentina
The Wines Fairtrade Carmenère, 2007, 13%, Curicò Valley, Chile Fairtrade Carmenère, 2008, 13.5%, Curicò Valley, Chile