Fair trade and the recession

According to Gallup Polls, consumer spending is down 20% from last year, but the sale of Fair Trade products are up 15%, according to FLO.

What does that mean?

Well, we’d have to do a really intensive study to tell you exactly what it means, but we here at LOH can tell you what we think it means.

In this recession, with so many people low on money, we believe people really care about and put a lot of thought into the purchases they are making with their limited financial resources.  There are so many reasons why a rise in fair trade could be going hand-in-hand with the global recession.

…Perhaps the recession is making people more aware of the hardships of people around the world who are paid below a living wage, and therefore they care more about buying fair trade products.

…Perhaps people care more about the quality and the story behind the products they are purchasing.  The quality of fair trade products is outstanding because each producer cares so much about their final product. Additionally, consumers can put a face to the product they are buying.

Whatever the reason, here at LOH we applaud consumers for making the choice to spend their hard-earned dollars on fair trade.  In the end, they are making the world a better place for workers everywhere.

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Tags: Connection, consumer spending, Economic Development, economy, Fair Trade, Las Otras Hermanas, recession, Social Change, social justice