Does buying Fairtrade help developing countries?
Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand chief executive Molly Harriss Olson said the rising popularity of the goods reflected a change in consumer behaviour.
"In Asia-Pacific, 63 per cent of respondents check the labelling first before buying to ensure the brand is committed to positive social and environmental impact," she said.
"There is an understanding that our work is associated with supporting developing countries, providing better prices for farmers, and ensuring no child labour is used throughout Fairtrade certified supply chains."
Since the movement began in the late 1980s, the label has grown to support more than 1.6 million people in 74 countries including Australia and New Zealand where there are almost 3,000 Fairtrade-certified products on the market.
A good representation of the programs impact is nestled in the Breede River Valley about an hour's drive from Cape Town on South Africa's Western Cape. Du Toitskloof Wines first began its social program in 2005. It is now the largest social responsibility project in the world, but coordinator Tienie Smith said it had not always been an easy road.
"We had to go to the workers and because of the past [apartheid] they said 'Well, this is just another trick from the producers'. After two years when we started building the daycare centres, they saw the difference and now they've taken ownership of this and they are running it," he said.
What started as a cooperative winery in 1962 with 12 families now includes 22 member farms and more than 1,600 workers. The Fairhills branded wine receives a fair minimum price, with 25 per cent of that going to the workers and 75 per cent to the wine producers.
Du Toitskloof's brand manager Bernard Kotze admits that when the project first started, not all of that money was put to good use.
"In the beginning when money came through you saw microwave ovens and TV sets and cars. Nowadays when money becomes available, brokers arrive. There's a total mindset difference," he said.
In its first year the project earned 235,000 rand ($25,000), but by 2017 that had grown to 4.2 million rand ($425,000) a year. It now funds a primary school, three daycare centres, a medical centre, library and computer lab, as well as programs to encourage students into higher education and sport.
A short walk from the library, children at the Fairhills Creche are being closely watched by worker Fiela Feniarden. She said the children and their families now had opportunities to succeed that simply were not there when the program started. Ms Harriss Olson believes there is no question about the program's value.
"It definitely makes a difference, especially with the young people, it definitely makes a difference," he said.
Read more at abc.net.au
