Farmers and Workers

People are at the heart of Fairtrade. There are over 1.9 million farmers and workers across more than 71 countries participating in Fairtrade. Find out more about the people working with Fairtrade.

A banana farmer in a banana tree in Panama

Banana farmers and workers

Bananas are grown both on small family farms and much larger commercial farms. Challenges include rising costs of production and changing weather patterns.

Fairtrade cocoa farmers at work in Ivory Coast in 2019

Cocoa farmers

Chocolate is one of the world’s favourite treats, but the future of cocoa farming is in jeopardy as the rewards of the job do not match the challenging working conditions.

Women sort through dried coffee beans in Ethiopia

Coffee farmers

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages and 80% of it is produced by 25 million smallholders.

A cotton farmer picks cotton into a basket

Cotton farmers

Cotton is the world’s oldest commercial crop and one of the most important fibre crops in the global textile industry.

Flower worker in greenhouse growing yellow roses at Mount Meru Flowers, Tanzania

Flower farmers and workers

The cut flower trade is now a major industry in both developing and developed countries, with global trade estimated to be worth more than $100 billion a year. 

Four gold miners in Peru

Gold miners

Gold is a symbol of love, power and wealth the world-over. But look behind the glitz and the reality is not so glamorous.

A sugar farmer cuts sugar cane

Sugar farmers

Around 80 per cent of the world’s sugar is derived from sugar cane, grown by millions of small-scale farmers and workers.

Tea farmers and workers

Tea is the most popular drink in the world after water – an estimated 70,000 cups are drunk every second. Tea farming communities however, face serious challenges.

Wine worker in Argentina

Wine farmers and workers

Wine is produced in over 50 countries around the world and is one of the world’s most well-known and popular beverages.

Fairtrade producers mixing shea

Farmers of other products

Explore even more Fairtrade certified producer organisations.