Our Guatemalan guest talks coffee and Fairtrade (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Our Guatemalan guest talks coffee and Fairtrade

7:30am Monday 11th March 2013 in News

A GUATEMALAN coffee producer visited Chelmsford to talk about the positives Fairtrade has had with his firm.

Basilio Chales Pablo came to the city as part of Fairtrade Fortnight and speak at an event organised by Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society.

The boss of Fedecocagua who make coffee products for the Co-op spoke about what life is like as a producer operating in the Fairtrade business model.

Launched in 1988, Fairtrade gives a better price to producers from developing nations, which Mr Chales Pablo says helps more than people like himself at home. Mr Chales Pablo said: “We have a school building which we have been able to improve thanks to the money from being part of Fairtrade, so it is helping our community back in Guatemala.

“The way we discuss things with the retailers is done in a very democratic way and it is the best thing to have. It is a good way to work.”

The Guatemalan also said the working within Fairtrade’s scheme also means the products being sold in supermarkets are of a better quality.

He said: “In Guatemala we make the best coffee in the world.

“Before Fairtrade, coffee producers would use products like fertilisers when harvesting their crops to save money, which would not be so good for the coffee.

“However, Fairtrade makes it better. Our coffee is organically grown and traders working within Fairtrade can get a deal which means they don’t have to cut costs and use fertilisers.

“This means customers are getting a much better product in the shop, so they are being helped by Fairtrade too.”

Other products which carry the Fairtrade stamp include bananas, wine, tea and sugar.