DU hosts fair trade advocate
Coronel: Fair trade provides workers with sufficient pay
Jennifer Nelson
Issue date: 10/11/05 Section: News
Bananas are more than an excellent source of potassium - they may also be an instrument for positive social change.
In honor of Fair Trade month, DU hosted Jovanny Coronel, a member of a Fair Trade organization in Ecuador, who spoke at the Daniels College of Business last week about his first-hand experiences of the improved quality of life the Fair Trade labels allow farmers.
Coronel has been a part of a group of 350 Fair Trade farmers, El Guabo, since 1997. He said that farmers who work under the Fair Trade label receive benefits such as health care, resources to improve soil, facilities and a monthly basket of food staples. Fair Trade also empowers farmers to hold the pricing line in the global produce market.
"El Guabo meets once per week to discuss fair prices and the farmer's share. [The meetings] give farmers a strong voice," Coronel said.
According to TransFair, the only Fair Trade certifier in the United States, the Fair Trade label also enables farmers to stop pesticide use, which can cause the degradation of soils and health risks such as cancer and infertility. Pesticides are replaced with more ecological fertilizing methods. Most of TransFair's produce meets organic standards even if it is sold as a regular fruit.
"Fair Trade creates a consciousness in you to do social and environmental works," Coronel said.
Another benefit of Fair Trade that Coronel mentioned is education. He said that Ecuador has high illiteracy rates, and it is almost unheard of for children to go on through high school and college, but Fair Trade groups make sure their children go to school. Fair Trade premiums make books and supplies for schooling possible, Coronel said.
Coronel said that many other farmers in his area want to become part of El Guabo, but without the economic demand for Fair Trade bananas, the group cannot grow.
Farmers not under Fair Trade labeling have about half the daily wages and less secure benefits, according to TransFair's web site. An average wage of $5 a day for non-Fair Trade workers falls short of the cost of daily living, which is about $10 a day.
In honor of Fair Trade month, DU hosted Jovanny Coronel, a member of a Fair Trade organization in Ecuador, who spoke at the Daniels College of Business last week about his first-hand experiences of the improved quality of life the Fair Trade labels allow farmers.
Coronel has been a part of a group of 350 Fair Trade farmers, El Guabo, since 1997. He said that farmers who work under the Fair Trade label receive benefits such as health care, resources to improve soil, facilities and a monthly basket of food staples. Fair Trade also empowers farmers to hold the pricing line in the global produce market.
"El Guabo meets once per week to discuss fair prices and the farmer's share. [The meetings] give farmers a strong voice," Coronel said.
According to TransFair, the only Fair Trade certifier in the United States, the Fair Trade label also enables farmers to stop pesticide use, which can cause the degradation of soils and health risks such as cancer and infertility. Pesticides are replaced with more ecological fertilizing methods. Most of TransFair's produce meets organic standards even if it is sold as a regular fruit.
"Fair Trade creates a consciousness in you to do social and environmental works," Coronel said.
Another benefit of Fair Trade that Coronel mentioned is education. He said that Ecuador has high illiteracy rates, and it is almost unheard of for children to go on through high school and college, but Fair Trade groups make sure their children go to school. Fair Trade premiums make books and supplies for schooling possible, Coronel said.
Coronel said that many other farmers in his area want to become part of El Guabo, but without the economic demand for Fair Trade bananas, the group cannot grow.
Farmers not under Fair Trade labeling have about half the daily wages and less secure benefits, according to TransFair's web site. An average wage of $5 a day for non-Fair Trade workers falls short of the cost of daily living, which is about $10 a day.