Advantages: Good for the Third World
Disadvantages: Not that good for you

...Did you know that since the Co-op switched its entire block chocolate range to Fair Trade chocolate, its sales have increased by 25%? The Guardian told me that, so it must be true. And it follows, I think, that Fair Trade chocolate: a) can’t really be that much more expensive than the mainstream offerings; b) must either be nicer or at least as nice as regular chocolate, and c) there must genuinely be a market of people out there who actively buy Fair Trade products over others. So, I did it! I bought my first Fair Trade chocolate bar. Wrapped in a blue wrapper it was, available for the princely sum of thirty-nine pence at any Co-op, but my particular bar was from my University union shop, where there is a little stand for all things Fair Trade. The Co-op Fair Trade range encompasses quite a lot of stuff. You can get 9 types... Read review

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Advantages: You eat better, you feel better
Disadvantages: Down to you...

...So here we are again, the Frenchman has something to say and you guys will have to read. It would seem a shame to rate this since I am neither in it for the money, nor for the All Essential Community Points and their pass to stardom. So I really would not care if you were to just read and not rate. This review will be tell you the way we, Castagnas, have changed our way of life because of Fair Trade. If you need to know what Fair Trade is, please refer to 3 reviews JillMurphy has written, saying anything about it will be plagiarism as everything you need to know is there, black on white and Jill will be happy to answer any question far better than I would be. But for those of you 'de passage' so to speak or too lazy to read anymore.. Here is a quick recap... ------ What is Fair Trade ----- Well, imagine you are a farmer... Read review

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Advantages: It is absolutely your choice
Disadvantages: Masks deeper problems and encourages scams

...Let me first make a big, big disclaimer. Like recycling, this is one of those scams that even the most normal people believe in. And, also, it's not all a scam. Behind fair trade, like behind recycling, there are good motives. Everybody wants the world to be a fairer, nicer place to be. The thought of helping people out who are in severe poverty is a whole-heartedly good thing. And the fact that we do help out in situations of dire need is an extremely good thing, and it is something we ought to keep up. The very fact that consumers - no, screw that word - people are willing to pay a little bit more - voluntarily - in order to help their fellow man out is a very worthwhile thing. Similarly, the fact that people want to voluntarily reduce pollution and recycle their waste is a good thing. But, there are problems. Good will... Read review

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Advantages: It's chocolate! It tastes good, relatively inexpensive.
Disadvantages: The orange filling is sickly.

...A few months ago after watching a documentary on the cocoa industry in Africa I decided that I needed to do a little something to help. Fair trade is a standard whereby the cocoa producers in Africa are held to and guaranteed a price for their cocoa beans if they adhere to the standards. These include ethical treatment of workers, not using child labour and generally producing in a social and environmentally good way. I love chocolate, in fact I'd chew my own arm off for a chocolate bar, so this for me was a big ask when I decided to give up non fair trade bars. What shocked me the most was the child labour, depriving children of the right to go to school to work at backbreaking jobs in the coca fields. The thing that struck me the most? Only 3% of all the cocoa produced under fair trade standards is actually bought - because... Read review

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Advantages: tasty, fair trade, organic, price ok
Disadvantages: a bit much tea in a single bag

...When I lived in London last year, I detected Teadirect's fair trade tea bags the first time. Generally, you have much more assortment and much better quality teas in the UK than we have in Germany, and this one here is my absolute favourite now: I'll buy it again whenever I'll come back to the UK. Unfortunately my last pack is used up know – and no visit in London in sight. :-(   General Information -------------------- As the name tells us, this tea is a fair trade tea. That means Teadirect buys the tea from the growers directly without (m)any in-betweens. Therefore, the growers get more money for living than they would get otherwise. Teadirect stand up for better conditions for the growers: most of them are exploited by big companies, but Teadirect wants them to have their 'own choice' and their 'own voice'. That means... Read review

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Advantages: It's fair trade, so it's friendly towards farmers, it's not too expensive
Disadvantages: Sickly

...Co-op Fair Trade Chocolate Orange Bar (part of the Co-op Fairtrade Chocolate Range) ********** This is my first food review so please bear with me! This could get a bit messy and… sticky… ********** I have tried a few different kinds of Fair Trade chocolate (being a bit of a chocoholic), and loved them all(!), so when I saw a Chocolate Orange Bar in Co-op, I thought I'd give it a try. I like trying all kinds of new chocolate just to make sure I'm not missing out on something! ********** "Since 2002 the Co-op has put only Fairtrade cocoa into it's block chocolate bars The Co-op's cocoa supplier is Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana, Africa." - www.co-opfairtrade.co.uk ********** What is Fair Trade? "Guarantees a better deal for Third World Producers" it says on the packaging for this bar of chocolate. But what is Fair... Read review

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Advantages: Fair
Disadvantages: More expensive

...Caribbean islands and the development issues that affect the Caribbean. One of the most important issues is fair trade. BANANAS: AN EXAMPLE OF FAIR TRADE FROM THE CARIBBEAN Bananas are the world's most popular fruit. Several islands in the Caribbean depend on the farming and export of bananas for economic survival - it is their number one industry. Caribbean bananas are generally smaller, tastier and more curvy than those produced elsewhere in the world. Caribbean bananas are grown mainly on small, family-run farms, using tiny amounts of chemicals, if at all. But Caribbean banana farmers are being squeezed from all sides. Firstly, they find themselves in direct competition with the Latin American banana. In countries like Costa Rica and Ecuador, bananas are produced very cheaply by the 'Big Three' companies (Chiquita, Dole and Del... Read review

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Advantages: Free samples, less oppression,
Disadvantages: You might get hooked

...Ah…tea. So British, so Chinese, so Indian. Tea itself only came to epitomise all things British, and probably more specifically English, through the majesty of our great Empire. Can anyone else hear exploitation? Oppression? Extreme capitalism? Yes I said Capitalism, a very dirty C word indeed. Ooooh, how we shudder to hear it, my midget and I. If only there was some way for us political types to have a brew without hearing the screams of the starving little children of the third world. Ear plugs are a short term solution, sure. But what if I'm not actually IN the third world? What if I'm not sitting in a shanty town robbing the poor in their own homes? What if it's a metaphor and the voices are in my MIND? What if I can't increase my medication? Why then Fair Trade Tea is the obvious solution! Hoorah! So what is this fair trade... Read review

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Advantages: Great taste. Makes a REAL brew.
Disadvantages: None whatsoever!

...I've always been a big tea drinker. A cup of tea is the first thing I must have first thing. I had to go for a blood test the other day and was told not to eat anything or drink anything (apart from water) before hand. Afterwards I was gagging for a cuppa, and was the first thing I had afterwards! Just lately I've been buying the shops own brand of teabags as I've been working on a bit of a budget lately. But I've always been wanting to buy Fair Trade products as I like to think that the people picking the leaves are getting a fair treatment. So whilst shopping in Tesco the other day I bought a small bag of Fair Trade sugar and a box of Clipper Fair Trade teabags. For 80 teabags you will pay £1.78. Now, I know this isn't the cheapest around, but there are more expensive on the market as well. I'd never tried this tea before... Read review

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Advantages: Lurvely Cuppa
Disadvantages: None

...about their workforce and the environment. ~ADDITIONAL NOTE ADDED AND EDITED 8th May 2003~ I have just bought my second box of this tea as I really love it, and in the bottom of the box I found a card detailing the "Clipper Tea Club" and thought I would add the details here. For £11.50 a year you can join the club and receive quartely newsletter with exclusive offers, tea samples, and competitions. I also made a quick visit to www.clipper-teas.com