Newest Fairtrade organization to bolster support for South-South trade in Brazil
Brazilian consumers now have the power to help farmers in Brazil and
developing countries build better futures for themselves, by choosing products with the FAIRTRADE
Mark in stores across Brazil.
‘Fairtrade Brasil’, the newest Fairtrade organization, was officially launched in Brazil on March 25.
The
organization joins 25 other Fairtrade organizations across the world that promote Fairtrade products in
their countries. Fairtrade Brasil was established to help develop a local market for Brazilian Fairtrade
producers and connect consumers with Fairtrade products grown at home.
“With the launch of Fairtrade Brasil, it will create new business opportunities for the small producers in
our cooperative to sell Fairtrade certified orange juice in the Brazilian market. We will no longer have
language or trade barriers and fluctuations of exchange rates,” said Vanusa Gonçalves Toledo from
COACIPAR, a Fairtrade certified orange producer organisation based in Paranavaí, Brazil.
Fairtrade Brasil is the latest organization working to grow the market for Fairtrade products in a Fairtrade
producer country, following the successful launches of national Fairtrade organizations in South Africa in
2009, and Kenya and India in 2013. South African Fairtrade sales reached €22.5m in 2013, with a
growing range of products from local Southern African farmers and beyond.
"Today, in Brazil, we have about forty Fairtrade certified cooperatives. These products, however, are
mostly used for export. The launch of Fairtrade Brasil will reduce the dependence on the international
market and open up the Brazilian and South American market as an alternative, avoiding language
barriers and exchange rate changes,” said Naji Harb, President of Fairtrade Brasil. "In addition to
ensuring fair payment to the producer, Fairtrade also empowers the consumer to contribute to food
security."
Products with the FAIRTRADE Mark are already available on supermarket shelves. The coffee in Café
familiar da Terra’s range is grown by Fairtrade producers in Minas Gerais; and Casa Apis Fairtrade
honey is local, sourced from Central de Cooperativas Apicolas in Picos. There are also a number of
international companies already offering Fairtrade certified products in Brazil, including brands such as
Ben & Jerry’s and Zotter. Ben & Jerry's ice cream also opened its first store in Brazil late last year.
“We are thrilled that Brazilian shoppers can now buy Fairtrade products. This exciting new initiative offers
them the opportunity to be part of the solution – and most importantly, deepens impact for farmers and
workers by opening up local markets,” says Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive of Fairtrade International.
