Fury as UK farmers eye Fairtrade logo; Soil Association argues for

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, Mar 30, 2003 | by Stephen Naysmith

"Fair trade should start at home. Until now, those buying UK organic products have had no idea whether the producer is getting a price that enables them to make a living.

"I don't think people want to support a more ethical trading relationship in developing countries but not in Britain."

The Soil Association is not seeking to force its views on the Fairtrade movement, he said. "We are a humble charity and we believe in partnership. If they don't want to be our partners, then we will call [our label] something else."

Aeneas Mackay, owner of 1500-acre Ardalanish farm on Mull is one of those who have expressed an interest in Fairtrade status. The farm produces Hebridean beef cattle and native sheep, and supports a fledgling organic textiles business.

He said he received fair prices already for his products, but backed any move to apply Fairtrade principles in the UK. "I really think it can work. The ideals of organics and fair trade are fairly similar.

"People will always buy fair trade coffee and bananas - we can't grow them here so I don't see why it would harm that."

Campaigners insist there are major differences between the plights of UK farmers and third world producers. Judith Hourston, an Edinburgh based Fairtrade marketing specialist, said: "At least in this country, we have safety nets such as free education, healthcare and welfare benefits. Most producers covered by the Fairtrade mark have none of this.

"People have come to understand that, when they buy the Fairtrade mark, the price premium goes to the producers to give them the choice to access healthcare and education."

Hourston added that brand ownership was one of the primary barriers to fair treatment for small scale farmers. "There are no longer many producers in either the UK or developing countries who have any ownership whatsoever of brands. This power is all in the hands of supermarkets and multinational companies."