What Is Fairtrade Food?

The Fairtrade Foundation exists to ensure that producers are guaranteed a minimum price for their goods irrespective of world prices.

This means that Fairtrade goods are often more expensive in the UK than those without the Fairtrade logo.  Although people are now arguing that supermarkets are fuelling their excessive profits by adding large mark-ups to these products.  This premium that the producer charges covers the basic food, housing, health and education needs of the local communities in countries such as India and Brazil.  The Foundation awards a consumer label, the Fairtrade Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of Fairtrade.  It is the only such certification in the UK.

Examples of products:

• Fairtrade coffee
• Fairtrade Tea
• Fairtrade Chocolate
• Fairtrade Bananas
• Fairtrade Honey
• Fairtrade Sugar
• Fairtrade Fruit Juice
• Fairtrade Wine and Snacks

The list of goods certified Fairtrade is growing daily as is the range of products available.  The co-op changed all their own brand chocolate to Fairtrade a few years ago and now all the other big supermarkets are beginning to move into the Fairtrade market.  Nestle have just released a Fairtrade brand.  There has been huge controversy over this as many people are asking how a company that is subject to a boycott can pertain to have Fairtrade and therefore ethical principles?

Why buy Fairtrade?

Millions of small farmers around the world cannot get enough money to feed their families, send their children to school or invest just a few pounds into their farm.  This is because people want to buy the cheapest goods possible and don't think about the people that working in poor condition and often receive less than £1 per day in wages.

Buying products that display the Fairtrade logo ensures that the producers of products such as tea, coffee and chocolate receive a decent income.  Rather than being hit by the ever-changing price of their product on the world market, or being fleeced by a middleman who takes a chunky share of the profits, producers in a Fair Trade scheme are guaranteed a decent, stable price for their produce.

By buying Fair trade products that buy direct from farmers at better prices, consumers are improving the lives of producers all over the world.  In Eithiopia, farmers can often get more then twice the price for their fair trade coffee then those that sell it on the open market.  This extra money enables the farmers to educate their children and to break the cycle of poverty.

Many people struggle to find a reason not to support Fairtrade.  Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers.  Fair trade is not about charity, it is about settling the imbalance which exists.

How do I know its Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade Mark when you shop and make the choice to support small farmers and workers in the developing world, and encourage your workplace to switch to Fairtrade tea and coffee.

Should I Buy Fairtrade, Organic Or Local Food?

Again, I find myself torn apart with choices when deciding which is the most ethical, eco friendly and/or healthy option when it comes to shopping for food and non-food products.

Should I buy food and products that support workers in Third World by buying Fairtrade labelled products even though these goods normally travel thousands of miles from Africa, South America or South East Asia?  What if these foods were produced with the use of pesticides and additives?  It makes sense then to look for and to buy Fairtrade, organic food to both help the producers in the Third World and fulfil my lifestyle choice to eat healthy and additive/pesticide free food.  Thankfully, many producers are now wising up to this dilemma by increasingly producing organic and Fairtrade labelled products.  I am currently using Fairtrade, organic t-bags at home!  Now comes another important question, should I buy Fairly Traded organic sugar from Kenya that has travelled thousands of miles, or should I buy apples grown in the UK (ideally from a farmers market) that have only travelled only a few hundred miles which means less carbon dioxide and other nasty emissions from the lorries that you see constantly on the motorways in the UK?  Buying UK products not only ensures less food miles but also supports local farmers, communities and economies.  Unfortunately, choice is often limited and can be more expensive then food produced in other countries ... ... ... Decisions, decisions, it's probably best to abstain from eating and give your choice making brain a rest!

But I can safely say that I make attempts to avoid food or products that have travelled from far away destinations such as Australia even if they are organic!  Next time you are in the supermarket or wherever you buy your food from check the labels and you will be surprised by how far your food has travelled.  Also look at the amount of unnecessary wrapping such as individually wrapped peppers, mushrooms and kiwi fruit in wrapped boxes.  When I buy from the local market I tell them to throw it all into one bag, the customer next to me often has 10 individually wrapped portions of fruit and veg.  That's 11 (10 plus one big plastic bag) bags into the landfill site that day.  For maximum eco efficiency we need to be using jute or other bags made from recycled materials and putting all the loose food into that.

For recycled bags, Fairtrade and Organic companies, products and food see GuideMeGreen.

Boost Your Energy Levels

If you woke up last Tuesday feeling tired and are still feeling run down, do not think that this is the end of the world and that your energy levels have been exhausted completely or that your age is catching up with you.  Everyone has at least once felt too tired to get up, dress, drive, work, and come back to the house ten hours later after performing a variety of functions, only to continue cleaning up, filing, cooking, and execute all those routine activities we have learned to complete on a daily basis.  But although you tried to sleep your tiredness away, the feeling of fatigue has prevailed and you are now in a worse state than ever before.  Do not panic, but instead seek a doctor's advice and perform a medical check up.  If all seem to be fine on the physical level, apart from the low energy levels you have been experiencing, then follow these tips and boost your energy to skyrocket heights.

People that experience a low energy period usually comfort themselves by resorting to sleep and adding extra hours of bed time in their attempt to find their lost energy somewhere in-between their bed sheets and covers.  This is usually not the right strategy.  If you have maintained a steady sleeping schedule, prior to this recent development, which suited your needs perfectly, the extra sleep you are planning to have will not help you increase your energy levels and take control of your life again.  On the contrary, if you decide to sleep when your body does not need that extra sleeping time you are increasing the feelings of being tired and lethargic.  Thus, instead of sleeping, try to exercise.  Energy needs energy to be produced.  By performing simple exercises, like walking or swimming, your body will increase its metabolism which will help you get your energy levels again up.  Try introducing exercising as part of your daily routine and you will be witnessing a tremendous change in your energy levels as well as mind awareness.

Do not forget to consume fluids and particularly water.  Additionally, by adding more vegetables, complex carbohydrates and proteins into your diet, you will see your energy increase and you will feel much better about yourself and be actually healthier than before.

Another tactic to boost your energy levels is to start working on something you have been postponing for a long time, but would love to see yourself doing.  Hobbies, interests, volunteer work or house improvement projects can help you get rid of boredom, which can be a very good reason why you feel the way you do.  You can invest time in doing things that are fun and relax your body and mind.  Going camping, fishing, playing with your or the neighbor's kids, can assist you increase your recently dropped energy bucket and become involved again.

Most importantly, you have to get started.  If you begin doing something that can take you away from that couch or bed, you will witness the difference in your energy levels instantly.  Do not procrastinate.  Act today and boost your energy levels back up where they belong.