Fair Trade Comes To Wine

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“Fair trade is a market system that is to some degree degree regulated, to ensure that producers benefit from trade; e.g., producers are guaranteed a minimum price when they sell their product. Fair trade is based on the belief that marginalized producers in developing countries do not benefit from free trade” (Clark, and Wallace 447). Wine has always been socially and culturally significant to humans for many years and today there are many vineyards and wineries around that world that produce different varieties of very tasteful wines ('Wine.' Canadian Fair Trade Network). But there are many issues but also benefits facing wine producers ('Wine.' Fairtrade International). Since trade liberalization has been increasing, many smaller wine grower …show more content…
All wineries should provide a safe conditions for workers and must pay them a fair price for their production (Nigro 'Fair Trade Comes to Wine'). It is very important to keep workers safe and healthy and protect the local ecosystem, and one way of doing so is to restrict the use of pesticide and ban all genetically modified organisms (Nigro 'Fair Trade Comes to Wine'). Many workers in South America and South Africa subjected the issue of unsafe and unfair working conditions, even though these countries do not fall under the jurisdiction of Fair Trade (Priestley 'Fair-trade wine – Vue Weekly'). Many of the wines that are made by the large corporations are made in corrupt conditions (Priestley 'Fair-trade wine – Vue Weekly'). Very unsafe and unfair working environment can have many negative effects on workers' health and their quality of …show more content…
One of the Fair Trade wines called Neu Direction started selling in one of the warehouse store arms of Wal-Mart. This wine was judged the best Fair Trade certified red wine at a competition organized by The Independent of London in February 2008 (Veseth 'Fiar Trade Wine'). The association members received a guaranteed minimum payment for their grapes and revenues were also channeled to community development projects such as schools (Veseth 'Fiar Trade Wine'). Neu Direction is an excellent wine at a good price and it attracts many buyers. It is distributed in about 450 Sam's Clubs and Wal-Mart across the U.S. They gain in some small way through its association with 'ethical' productions (Fair Trade, sustainable and organic products) and has a reason to promote them (Veseth 'Fiar Trade Wine'). South African wines are very fast growing segment of the British market and it has helped expand the market both in terms of supply (drawing Chile and Argentina into the mix) and demand (introducing Fair Trade wines to the U.S. and other markets). Argentina is the biggest supplier of Fair Trade wines to the U.S. (Veseth 'Fair Trade Wine's Long Journey). Expanding market and mixing different country markets together is very beneficial to the fair trade of