The Fairtrade Foundation

was set up in 1992 by

CAFOD, Christian Aid,
WDM, Oxfam and Traidcraft.

It is an independent
non-profit organisation
that licenses use of the
FAIRTRADE Mark on
products in the UK.
Fairtrade products include tea, coffee,
cotton, rice, wine, pineapples, flowers, nuts,
ice-cream, chocolate, fruit juice, biscuits,
dried fruit, cereals, honey…

…but one of the

most popular is
bananas!
The Windward Islands is a group of six islands in the
Caribbean, including Martinique and St. Lucia.
 Windward Islands bananas

Banana trade to Europe from small producers in

the Windward Islands used to be protected. Since
1993 new trade rules have gradually changed this.

As a result, large-scale producers from Latin

America and Africa flood the market with cheap
bananas. They can do this because of low wages,
poor employment standards, and intensive
production including high pesticide use.

In the Windward Islands this means fewer

bananas, smaller profits, and fewer jobs.
 Windward Islands bananas

In St. Lucia, the number of banana farmers fell

from 10,000 in the early 1990s to 1,800 in 2005.

Fairtrade is helping the Windward Islands banana

industry to survive.

In 2005, 29% of bananas exported were Fairtrade.

In 2006 this figure was 72%.

Sources: fairtrade.org.uk/producers/bananas/winfa/default.aspx
fairtrade.org.uk/producers/bananas/winfa/conrad_james.aspx
 Why is Fairtrade better?

1. Fairtrade farmers
receive a fair price for
their bananas.
2. Fairtrade farmers are
given money ( a
‘premium’) to spend
in their community.
3. Fairtrade farmers
care for the
environment and
make sure that all
their workers are
treated fairly.
Conrad James, St. Lucia
Conrad James has been
selling bananas into the
Fairtrade market for over
six years.

Most weeks he harvests

around one hundred
18kg-boxes of bananas.

He has three sons who

help him on the farm
when they are at home.
Conrad feels that
Fairtrade is helping to
change peoples’ way of
life and is encouraging
them to stay in farming.

Fairtrade farmers
receive a ‘premium’ –
money for investment in
social, environmental or
economic development
projects.
Conrad’s farm is part of
the Roseau Model Farm
Fairtrade Group in the
west of St.Lucia.

During their monthly

Fairtrade meetings,
farmers discuss
production and how to
use their Fairtrade
premium.
The Roseau Model
Farm group have used
some of their Fairtrade
premium to build a new
fence around the local
school.

They also bought some

fans for the local
medical centre, which
previously had nothing
to keep patients cool in
the tropical heat.
Nationally, the premium
has provided:
• medical assistance
• sterilising equipment
for hospitals
• computers for schools
• a new truck to deliver
banana packaging
materials, and fertilisers
provided to Fairtrade
groups at minimum
cost.
“Fairtrade must be
something
transparent… not just
bringing economic
benefits but social
benefits, and
recognising the
injustices of the world
trading system.”
Renwick Rose,
Windward Islands Farmers’
Association
Unfair trade causes
poverty. If world trade rules
were fair, the Fairtrade
Mark would not be needed!
The European Union
(EU) is pushing for free
trade rules that will
harm small producers in
developing countries.
YOU can help defend
small producers.
Visit the Trade Justice
Movement’s website to
learn more.
In the meantime, buy
Fairtrade…

…and use your own

Fairtrade enterprise
ideas to encourage
others to do the
same!