Fair Trade Wines To Be Certified In the US
Ξ September 16th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ A Day at a Time, International Terroirs, Wine History, Wine News, Winemakers, Wineries |
What is now the Fairtrade Foundation was quietly begun in 1988 with a label on a coffee from Mexico. The initiative was launched by a Dutch development agency, Solidaridad, in response to the collapse of the world coffee price. I am reminded of Vaclav Havel’s note that the ‘Velvet Revolution’ in Czechoslovakia was begun with a simple, rebellious placard placed in a shopkeeper’s window. 1989.
Fair Trade, copyrighted and labeled as such, was first to appear in 1992 with the help of the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft, the World Development Movement, and later joined by the Women’s Institute.
In the last 20 years the Fair Trade movement has grown dramatically. By 2006, a full 1500 products were made available in the United Kingdom alone. A full reckoning of their impact may be read here
So what does Fair Trade mean? Work to increase producer incomes by insuring sustainable farming and livable wages; to fight poverty, encourage self-determination, to promote a democratic working environment with health and safety a priority. The guiding idea is to promote human rights. Easy words to say, very hard work to realize.
And bear in mind a ‘producer’ referenced above often means, with respect to the Southern Hemisphere, and in the words of Co-op America,
“Most of the wine produced in the Global South and sold in the US comes from vineyards where growers are paid poverty wages for their work and are exposed to dangerous pesticides.”
Ah, yes, wine. Fair Trade standards for wine came into being in 2004. The first certified wine was Vinos Los Robles Cooperative in Curico, Chile. And early to the cause was importer Ehrmanns. They write,
“Ehrmanns Ltd became one of the first Fairtrade wine importers from the moment Fairtrade standards were introduced for wine grapes in early 2004. At this time Ehrmanns represented Vinos Los Robles Cooperative in Curico, Chile, the first winery in South America to be Fairtrade accredited and only the second winery to be accredited in the world - the first Fairtrade accredited winery was Thandi in Elgin, South Africa.”
Thandi, indeed, was the first, followed closely by Goue Valley, both from South Africa. Indeed, South Africa has led the way. There is now Stellar Organics, and the superb company Origin. Many more are on the way. Explore the list.
So what is required for certification? Workers must be provided a living wage and collective bargaining, the freedom to join a union is a necessity. No child labor is allowed. (Sex discrimination is not clearly discussed.) Full disclosure must be provided on the use of pesticides. That health care is offered. Sustainable grape growing practices are required.
The news I offer here is in two parts:
1) That a number of Fair Trade wines are now available in the US, and they have been here for some time. I would like to draw your attention to a fresh, remarkable web site. Tiffany Tompkins has done a terrific job in distributing wines certified by the international body, Fair Trade Foundation. Please use her Search function to locate the wines in your area. (Folks in Cali, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana(!), Wisconsin, and Wyoming are in luck!)
2) It is no longer true when Co-op America writes,
“Although TransFair USA, the U.S. Fair Trade label, does not currently have a Fair Trade wine certification…”
Indeed, Fair Trade Certified USA will announce October 1st its list of officially certified wines to be released in the US. The Press Release is forthcoming.
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