Fair Trade is a movement at the market level to replace poverty with economic self-sufficiency while promoting sustainability. What does that mean? When you see the International Fairtrade Certification Mark (or the U.S. Fair Trade Certified seal), you can be sure of a few things. First, that the small farmers in the production chain, mostly in developing countries, are paid fair prices for their goods, and that workers are paid fair wages. Second, that environmental standards for sustainability are met. Third, that no child labor was used.

Why should you care who stitched the shirt on your back, or picked the coffee in your cup? We can't make you care about anything, but we can make you aware that through your purchasing power, like it or not, you're either contributing to the problem or the solution.

"Fair Trade" versus "Fairtrade" and other FAQs at fairtrade.net, transfairusa.org, or Oxfam International.