By: Maddie Lobdell
The present system for importing cocoa and coffee is very exploitative of poor farmers. Between farmers and consumers are multinational corporations that are cushioned against market swings and are emotionally detached from how the market impoverishes millions of people. The consumer is increasingly unwilling to be apart of this; which is what the fair trade system is used for.
The Fair Trade system aims to give family farmers a fairer wage challenging large plantations and multi-national corporations. It wants a fair exchange between the consumer and the farmer. Organizations involved say it is working; it is empowering farmers to create a powerful export business and make higher prices; up to two or three times. It is very controversial because it is shown to give farmers more money. The question is, does it really make a big enough difference, and can we get enough consumers to get behind the idea of buying more expensive coffee. If enough people are aware, and get behind the fair trade system, it can make a difference. Even though some farmers receive only $1.26 over $1.10, the small amount more they make per pound will add up and can be extremely beneficial to them. It may be a small addition, but it will help the impoverished farmers.
One of the worst parts of the system is the manner that which multi-national corporations mask the way they exploit the workers. They loan the peasants small amounts of cash in return for their harvest in a no-haggling transaction, but consumers do not know this because they call it a co-operative. Thus, making it look like they are assisting the farmers.