Sugar
(pouches 2.5g)
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Sugar
(454 g)
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Our pure cane sugar is imported directly from a Costa Rican co-op. |
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Sugar
(1 kg)
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Our pure cane sugar is imported directly from a Costa Rican co-op. |
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Fair Trade Sugar
Sugar is a product that most of us consume on a daily basis. Yet how many of us spend any real time pondering the source of this sweet staple as we pour it into our favourite cup of morning coffee or tea?
Most of us are far removed from the reality that sugar cane is one of the most labour intensive and dangerous commodities to harvest in the world and that, in many industrialized countries, sugar has become one of the most heavily subsidized agricultural products.
The European Union, the United States, and Japan all maintain elevated price-floors for sugar through subsidizing domestic production and imposing high tariffs on imports. In recent years, sugar prices in these countries have exceeded prices on the international market by up to three times.
The Fairtrade model ensures higher incomes for sugar cane growers in developing countries and the possibility to access the international market.
Source: FLO
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The Equita Difference
Our pure cane sugar is imported directly from a Costa Rican co-op. Certified Fair Trade, Equita cane sugar has a beautiful light blond colour.
Fair:
When you buy Equita pure cane sugar, you can be sure that is has been bought from its producers at a fair price.
Social:
Green:
This sugar was produced using environmentally responsible methods.
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Did you know that…?
- Millions of tones of sugar are being dumped on international markets, thanks to massive exportation subsidies, namely from Europe.
- Competitive sugar from developing countries is being kept out of developed countries by importation taxes and quotas. |
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A Fair Price!
Equita pays the Fair Trade minimum price for sugar is 520 US$ per metric tonne.
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Year |
World market price (US $/ton) |
Equita Price (US $/ton) |
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Sugar |
2003 |
156 |
520 |
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2004 |
157 |
520 |
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2005 |
217 |
520 |
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2006 |
366 |
520 |
Source: FAO |
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The Producers’ CO-OPs
CoopeAgri is a leading cooperative of small producers of cane sugar and coffee in Costa Rica. In 2006, the co-op counts on 10 162 members of which 30% are women. The cane sugar export through the Fair Trade market grows fast: in 2000, CoopeAgri exported 6 800 sugar bags of 50kg each, four years later, this number had doubled.
Thanks to Fair Trade, CoopeAgri could put in place an innovative rainforest protection programme. An organic conversion programme has also started. All the employees benefit from a social security system.
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