This question is often asked as people tend to rationalise economics without sensing possible market failure by i.e. natural monopolies.
The first Fair Trade concept was about trading special handicrafts to support local economies in gaining money for building schools and hospitals. These days we know that in many primary industries the concept of economies of scale has led to impoverished families across the world who depend heavily on their income from farming. As industrialized farms dominate the market and commodity prices fall small farms aren’t able to produce in a profitable way. The money they earn being not sufficient to feed or clothe themselves.
Knowing that billions of people rely on agriculture and that first world growing prosperity has not grown evenly divided across the world (or as economists say,in a Pareto efficient way) you should consider buying Fair Trade products to help solving this problem.
Fair Trade makes sure that local economies can flourish. Keeping the profits for a big part to build schools and other goods or services people are entitled to. Fair Trade also makes sure that things like child labour or destruction of natural habitats won’t happen. Just check the net for all the good things Fair Trade organisation do.
Our vision on sustainable food means that products who can be transported without too much environmental cost are OK to buy from oversees. I.e. dry goods such as tea or coffee and even some fresh goods such as bananas,although we shouldn’t buy too much. Something to consider when deciding is the emotional value of such products,which we as chefs understand. We are clearly against the constant production and worldwide distribution of fresh goods like green beans from Kenya or asparagus from Peru as they have their own local production seasons with less environmental costs. When it comes to rooted cultural products like chocolat from cocoa beans it’s emotional value can negotiate with environmental costs.
If we want to grown to a sustainable food production pattern it should be wise to calculate externalities in the price which could limit the massification of food. Especially when it comes to biodiversity and loss of emotional and nutritional value.
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