If I can only have 1 certification, I prefer Fair Trade over organic because many Fair Trade items are “passive organic.” This is because the growers can’t afford pesticides. They grow products where nature intended…so they don’t need pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Organic Certification costs more than Fair Trade Certification does. Many farmers can’t afford organic certification, event when they band together in coops. But, they can afford Fair Trade Certification.

In many 3rd world countries parents have to pay for school for their children. It’s not free. Buying Fair Trade means parents can afford to send their kids to school rather than keep them home working in the fields. It’s impact is so far reaching.

The easiest Fair Trade product you can find in the US is coffee. The only thing we import more of than coffee is petroleum (at least that was so when I was with TranFair. I assume it’s the same now). This is an area where your purchasing decisions can have hugely positive impact.

Every time you go to a coffee house, ask if they have Fair Trade Certified Coffee. If they don’t, tell them that Fair Trade is important to you and you’d hate to go to their competitor to get it.

As a side note, Americans often think people in the 3rd world who haven’t had a formal education aren’t smart. I have to tell you that I had the honor of driving around one of the farmers that TransFair brought up from Nicaragua for a speaking tour. This man had never taken a warm shower in his life. He was from a small village. But he had a much better grasp of world affairs than most college educated Americans do.

I could go on…but I won’t. Thanks David for covering this issue. It’s personal and very important to me.