What is Fair Trade Anyway? Case Study: Shea Terra Organics

Fair Trade protects native workers from exploitation by ensuring that they receive fair wages and fair working conditions.  Many impoverished nations have great natural resources that are purchased by big businesses for use in cosmetic and food products.  Often times these businesses undercut the native farmers and destroy wildlife habitats.  Once company that's making a difference with Fair Trade is Shea Terra Organics.  Shea Terra Organics has been concerned about the exploitation of Africa’s precious resources and native people. Currently millions of tons of African resources are exported each year without consideration for the native people or the wildlife habitats.  Shea Terra Organics goal is to abolish this injustice. 

Shea Terra Organics works closely with self-empowerment programs and environmental groups throughout Africa.  Rather than looking for ways to undercut suppliers Shea Terra allows native farmers to set their own prices and determine what they believe the value of their goods are.  Shea Terra’s goal is to help native people become self-sufficient.  Their Marula Oil is cultivated by a group of over four thousand Namibian women.  Many of these women have escaped the war torn north and this opportunity provides them with their only source of income. By providing natives with money for their wild harvested crops they are given an incentive to protect the environment and it’s wildlife.  By purchasing Shea Terra products you are helping support wildlife preservation, Fair Trade, self-empowerment and education programs in Africa.  Always choose Fair Trade products and you can feel good in knowing that your hard earned money is making a difference in the lives of others.