a new commentary from the International Relations Center, by Marcelle Strazer
[5-17-05]

The fair trade market offers small coffee farmers a chance to benefit from globalization through direct links to markets in wealthy countries. The experience of Recocarno, (Reseau des Cooperatives Cafeieres de la Region Nord) a network of seven small coffee-producer cooperatives in northern Haiti, illustrates both the potential benefits of fair trade, and the challenges of making these benefits sustainable.

Recocarno was launched with support from several partners, including a fair trade buyer, local and international NGOs and an international strategic marketing expert. Since becoming certified through the Fair Trade Labeling Organizations (FLO) in 1997, Recocarno has steadily implemented a plan to build a producer-owned and operated export business.

Recocarno’s experience holds many lessons for small farmers in countries with a similar history of elite control of export markets. The organization has shown that small farmers who act collectively, are organized as a business, and have on-going technical and financial support can challenge the old export monopolies. A ‘double bottom line’ business approach has a broader economic and social impact than focusing narrowly on marketing and production. This approach has both corrected market inefficiencies in favor of small producers and reinforced socially responsible business principles such as ecosystem management, democratic and accountable leadership, gender equity and direct reinvestment of dividends into community projects.