Fair gifts, the gift with a heart

CEBU, Philippines - Christmas is just around the bend and the more we think of it, the more we tend to beat our heads trying to figure out what to give our loved ones, clients, officemates, boss, or what-have-you.

Admittedly, one of the major criteria in choosing a gift is the price tag. Are we able to buy as many items as we can with our limited budget? And then, we have to balance the budget with the question: Will they appreciate and like these stuffs?

As much as we try to stick to the age-old aphorism, “It’s the thought that counts,” let’s admit that this is a kind way of saying: “Your gift sucks!”

Almost always the considerations that we put in buying a gift is either based on our capacity to purchase an item with the risk of a dissatisfied receiver, or the satisfaction of the receiver putting our finances on the line.

Well, here’s a consideration that would tie up all these concerns, making gift giving even more meaningful, and those selfish thoughts kept at bay – fair gifts, the gift with a heart.

These gifts would leave both the giver and receiver with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment and an experience of the true essence of giving. More than the item itself, the contentment that one would get from the gift stems deeper, that is, the knowledge that together with getting a quality product, you are also able to help give a lowly farmer and his family a much warmer Christmas.

This is the essence of fair trading.

Fair trade is a global movement that aims to promote just and equitable trading. No more big profits for greedy capitalists, but more income for small farmers and small producers.

Geraldine Labradores, chair of the World Fair Trade Organization-Philippines and managing director of Cebu-based Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center, gives the following reasons why fair trade is the way to go this Christmas:

1. Quality.

Fair Trade Certified products are made for the import market. SPFTC’s food products, according to Labradores, are manufactured based on the orders from partner Fair Trade organizations in Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, as well as other European and Asian countries. All of their items are thus manufactured with strict quality control and under good manufacturing practice, ensuring that they would meet the strict requirements of the international market.

In addition, all Fair Trade organizations are constantly being monitored by an international body to ensure that they meet the minimum requirements of a Fair Trade Certified company.

2. Unique items.

The Fair Trade Shop is a treasure trove of rare, unique and exotic items.

One such rare item exclusively sold at The Fair Trade Shop is the Arengga Coffee Alamid or the Philippine civet coffee, one of the most expensive and most sought after coffee. You will also find such items as woven candle holders, abaca purse and pouch bags, 100 percent recycled Christmas and holiday cards, and exotic hand-made home décors.

There are also organic products, ranging from fresh produce to organic herbal infusions. Health and wellness items like virgin coconut oil, raw honey, coco sugar, and fragrant oils for aromatherapy are also available in the shop.

Labradores revealed that should there be a need, they are able to personalize items for the buyer.

3. The story behind the product.

Each product is produced by a group of individuals with the hope of improving their disheartening condition. Most of these people are victims of greedy businessmen whose goal is to raise profits by buying their products at an unfair price. With the introduction of Fair Trade, these groups are given hope, knowing that they will be getting the true value of their products.

The people who made these products come from urban poor communities, rural farming communities, indigenous groups, women’s groups, rehabilitated law offenders and other marginalized sectors of society.

Each product has a story to tell, and these stories tell of struggles and finding success in Fair Trade.

4. Support for the promotion of equitable and just trading.

“If you patronize fair trade products, you are sending a message to profit-oriented companies, that it’s time for them to be socially-conscious and exercise their responsibility in helping the community and the country to grow,” said Labradores.

As an example, Labradores said that the dried mangoes and other mango products under the TruFood brand were made using mangoes bought from farmers at a price agreed upon by both parties, and not dictated by the buyer. This ensures that the farmer will be given a fair price that will compensate his expenses in producing the product, with some profit, at that.

Should consumers patronize the TruFood brand of dried mangoes, other companies who manufacture dried mangoes would also get into the bandwagon and start buying their raw materials also at a fair price. Already, big multinational companies are beginning to realize the potential of fairly traded products. As such, they have also introduced fair trade lines in their product lists.

5. Satisfyingly fulfilling.

Labradores revealed that SPFTC buys mango products at market price. Meaning, that despite the fact that they are the ones who transport the mangoes from the farms of their partner mango farmers to their plant in Naga, Cebu, still the price they give the farmer is the prevailing price in the supermarkets in the city. In contrast, Labradores said that traditional companies buy mangoes at a very low price, to the point of putting the farmers on the losing end.

She added that part of the profit from the sales of their processed mango products goes to the improvement of the farming methods of the farmers, increasing their efficiency and output, and encouraging them to engage in natural methods of farming.

Knowing this, Labradores said that the consumer would be elated at the prospect of being able to help small farmers raise their standard of living.

This kind of satisfaction that the consumer would get in buying Fair Trade Certified products, is in itself, priceless, she said.

So, if you really want to make a difference this Christmas, buy Fair Trade Certified products. The Fair Trade Shop-Philippines (Cebu) is at 102 Jose R. Martinez Bldg., Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City (near Maybank and PhilAm Life). They are open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information call (032)5110974.