Exploring all aspects of fair trade – from the usual coffee and chocolate, to Palestinian olive oil and how the economics of fair trade pans out – the authors do a good job of explaining what fair trade is and what it encompasses. Expecting to find the usual message of ‘buy fair trade, feel good, help the poor while you’re at it and here’s how’, the book surprised by delving deeper and looking at global business practices and explaining some less feel-good issues, such as ethical clothing supply chains, food miles (many fair trade products are sourced far afield), and genetically modified crops. Do note – transnational companies are not treated in a favourable light at all.
Published by Pluto Press
240pp, £7.99, paperback
ISBN 13 978 0 7453 2584 2 www.plutobooks.com
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