What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade means the difference between life and death in the world’s most impoverished areas. Fair Trade ensures that the way we import or export goods is based firmly on the principles of economic and social justice. It provides a way to guarantee that the purchases we make help, rather than harm, those involved in the production cycle.

Fair Trade guarantees that farmers and other workers:

• Receive a fair price for their goods;
  
•  Work in healthy and environmentally sustainable conditions;
  
• And have the financial and educational support they need to improve their communities, develop their business, and improve their economic positions.

Systemic change in society requires each of us to take steps to bring about change in our own lives (e.g. how we make purchases) and to hold responsible the institutions we participate in (e.g. corporations, governments, the church, and our communities) to do the same in the interest of justice and peace.

What the ELCA has to say... “We commit ourselves as a church and urge members to generously support organizations and community-based efforts that enable low-income people to obtain more sufficient, sustainable livelihoods.” “Our God-given dignity in community means that we are to participate actively in decisions that impact our lives, rather than only passively accept decisions others make for us.” (Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All [ELCA, 1999])