Fair Trade

Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit, self-supporting alternative trading organization (ATO). ATOs are non-governmental organizations designed to benefit producers, not to maximize profits. They market products from handicraft and agricultural producer organizations based in low-income countries. They provide consumers around the world with products that have been fairly purchased from sustainable sources. ATOs put fair trade into practice and campaign for more equitable terms of trade for producers from low-income countries.

Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association, (IFAT). Established in 1989, IFAT is the only international network that represents the whole fair trade chain from production to sale. It is a federation to promote Fair Trade and a forum for the exchange of information to help members increase benefit to producers.

This is how IFAT defines fair trade:

Fair trade is better than aid--it builds a sustainable future on producers' own abilities.

Improving the producer's quality of life is the main objective.

Producers receive a fair price for their goods and advances on orders.

ATOs work with producers to provide quality products.

Purchase and marketing of producers' goods are conducted according to high ethical standards. Continuity of orders is important.

Sources, production and workplaces do not exploit people or the environment.

Products have meaning above their tangible attributes. Consumers are informed about the people who make the products they purchase, increasing their loyalty and understanding that their purchasing power makes a difference.

Cultural exchanges between people among different regions are encouraged.

Ten Thousand Villages is also a member of Fair Trade Federation (FTF), a coalition of more than two hundred craft producers, wholesalers and retailers. FTF seeks to develop a workable agenda for handicrafts and agricultural products within the context of fair trade.

Click here for links to other Fair Trade Resources.