Local Producers

There is no official Fairtrade certification for producers that live in first world countries such as Canada.  So, as such, no Calgary local producers can be Fairtrade certified.  That does not mean that a local producer is not following and supporting fair trade principles. 

​Many local producers ensure that their workers are paid a wage that reflects the work they put into creating their product, Many follow environmentally sustainable practices and may be an organic producer, and many local producers also go the extra mile to provide great benefit back to the community.  Fair Trade Calgary will continue to identify and recognize local producers that are supportive of fair trade principles in Calgary.

Direct Trade

Some businesses deal directly with artisans in developing countries and will travel to these countries to buy product at a fair price to import back to Canada and resell here.  Though great progress has been made at trying to certify categories of products such as handicraft, woven textiles, and other handmade items, not all of these producers are officially Fairtrade certified. 

Other Fair Trade Symbols

It can be confusing to the public when there are so many different symbols that are considered “fair trade”.  The Fairtrade Mark represents the best known and most respected ethical certification system for social sustainability.  It provides an easy and reliable way to know that products have met credible standards that are set and monitored following best practices, public input, and regular audits. ​

With other fair trade symbols, the certification sometimes only applies to part of the product (only a portion of the supply chain may be meeting fair trade principles). 

​It is important for the consumer to educate themselves on what other symbols are certified to, and to recheck often, as sometimes standards change.  We encourage the public to advocate for all fair trade certification organizations to keep high standards so that the purchase is meaningful to the global betterment of producers in developing countries.