How popular is Fair Trade?

How popular is Fair Trade?

Sam Bills (Manager) gives expert video advice on: Why is Fair Trade so popular?; How can I help spread the word about Fair Trade?; Where can I find out more about Fair Trade? and more...

Fair Trade is growing at a rapid rate in popularity, considering it is a fairly young movement. It is amazing to see how companies like Transfare nearly double or have a 75% or so increase every year in the amount of Fair Trade coffee they're certifying, which indicates there is a real demand in that particular market for Fair Trade coffee. Ten thousand villages, for instance, is growing - within five years we plan on doubling the size of the amount of purchases that we are making for the artisan groups that we support. All of that growth is based on a continuing increase in demand for Fair Trade products. In numbers, Fair Trade makes up a small amount of international trade, but it is a growing amount and even with the niche that Fair Trade now has on international trademark, in October of 2006 there were approximately one and a half million who were benefiting directly from Fair Trade relationships. Even in terms of its growing movement, it is rapidly gaining popularity, and that is what's exciting about it.