Fair Trade Towns and Local First: Improving Communities and their Economies

by Natalie Forster

While working to create a more just food system, LFTN is also helping to build and bridge stable community economies through fair wages and practices. However, LFTN isn’t the only group working to promote a more just way of living through the local and fair trade movements. Entire towns and cities are dedicating time and effort in becoming “Local First” communities and Fair Trade Towns. These efforts educate people about the kind of options they have and the benefits of buying fair trade and locally. Changing consumer can then generate more business, jobs and diversity, while keeping the money and power in the hands of the community and its economy.

Independent business alliances and the “Local First” movement are springing up in a variety of cities across the US. They are creating awareness of local goods and businesses, and their benefits to the community. Educating people about why they should buy local goods creates more business for the local retailers, which provides the opportunity to offer more jobs. Local businesses also have a greater interest in investing in the local economy, since they are part of the community. Research has shown that a higher percentage of the money spent goes back in to the community when spent at locally owned stores, compared to money spent at chain stores. Also, this kind of commerce levels the playing field and allows local businesses to compete with large corporate chains, which exploit their economic power by offering low wages and selling products for cheaper, then raising prices once local competitors are forced to close.

The Fair Trade Town movement was started in the UK and spread throughout Europe. Recently a few cities in the US and Canada have jumped on board. The idea is that the town is committed to buying and selling fair trade goods, and to involve retailers and consumers in that process. More information about the guidelines and specific cities involved with the Fair Trade Town are at the website. To learn more about the first US and Canadian Fair Trade Towns you can follow these links: US and Canada.