Fair Trade

In the summer of 2019, Queen’s Hospitality Services made a commitment to begin working towards a Fair Trade Campus designation. We have collaborated with university departments and student groups to encourage the switch to Fair Trade products. With this commitment, we are promising a mutually beneficial relationship between both the consumer and producer. By partnering with Fair Trade Canada, we are helping to provide opportunities and market relationships to maintain the livelihood of farmers and provide their families with a more stable income. By purchasing Fair Trade, we ensure that ingredients were produced by small-scale farmer organizations or plantations that will meet the social, economic, and environmental standards.

Some examples of standards include: 

Economic: 

·         Minimum price established for products ensuring that producers have the power to negotiate

·         Payments of Fair Trade premium allowing the farmer to invest in their business or community projects (Ex., community infrastructure, agricultural equipment and innovative start-ups for farming methods, etc.)

·         Access to credit for loans to build and innovate their farming and business practices

Social: 

·         Policies protecting the rights of workers to ensure the risks, such as exploitative child labour, are minimized 

·         Ability to become a member of a cooperative and democratically organized community environment

·         Network of innovation and knowledge through the constant exchange of information among other farmers 

Environmental:

·         Preservation of habitats and environments  

·         Sustainable use of water 

Why University Campuses?

 With members of the university regularly working as agents of change, post-secondary institutions are exceptional centers of leadership and innovation. With this, Fair Trade works to harmonize the social, economic, and environmental values held by students, staff, and faculty members. This allows for the rising demand and support for Fair Trade certified products.

Requirements:

As per the requirements to qualify as an eligible Fair Trade Campus, the following changes and initiatives have been established.

Product Availability

Fair Trade products must be made readily available at all food services locations that fall under the control of the university and its shareholders. Locations must only serve Fair Trade certified coffee, a minimum of 3 Fair Trade certified teas, and a Fair Trade certified chocolate bar (where chocolate bars are sold).

Listed below are the products available in Queen’s Hospitality Services Locations:

Fair Trade Coffee

Proudly Brewing Starbucks – Pike Place and Café Estima

• The Lazy Scholar
• The Library Café (temporarily closed)
• Goodes Café (temporarily closed)
• MC2 (Macintosh-Corry)
• Donald Gordon Conference Centre (temporarily closed)

Marley Fair Trade Coffee

• Location 21
• Gord’s Fresh Café (temporarily closed)
• Student Street Express (temporarily closed)
• Recharge (temporarily closed)
• Market Street (temporarily closed)
• Jean Royce Dining Hall
• Leonard Dining Hall
• Ban Righ Dining Hall
• Catering and Event Services (temporarily closed)

Fair Trade Tea

4 O’Clock

• The Lazy Scholar
• The Library Café (temporarily closed)
• Goodes Café (temporarily closed)
• MC2 (Macintosh-Corry)
• Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre (temporarily closed)
• Location 21
• Gord’s Fresh Café (temporarily closed)
• Student Street Express (temporarily closed)
• Jean Royce Dining Hall
• Leonard Dining Hall
• Ban Righ Dining Hall
• Catering and Event Services (temporarily closed)
• Recharge (temporarily closed)
• Market Street (temporarily closed)

Fair Trade Chocolate Bars

Camino

• The Lazy Scholar
• The Library Café (temporarily closed)
• Goodes Café (temporarily closed)
• MC2 (Macintosh-Corry)
• Location 21
• Gord’s Fresh Café (temporarily closed)
• Student Street Express (temporarily closed)
• Recharge (temporarily closed)

Other locations on campus servings Fair Trade products include The Tea Room (temporarily closed) run by the Engineering Society along with Common Ground, The Brew (temporarily closed), and Queen’s Pub (temporarily closed) run by the Alma Mater Society.

Visibility and Education

Queen’s Hospitality Services Marketing team will focus on providing education and resources through online channels, such as launching a social media awareness campaign.

The committee will plan and engage an annual celebration of Fair Trade. This event will also provide an opportunity for the committee further education and spread awareness on fair trade, as well as showcase their plans for next steps in advancing the initiative. 

Steering Committee

The Fair Trade Steering committee is formed of volunteers and administrative representatives to ensure the continued commitments and advancement of the Fair Trade designation. The committee will host bi-annual meetings to discuss progress and future initiatives to further innovate the Fair Trade engagement on campus.

Committee members include:

Queen’s Hospitality Services is proud to be serving Fair Trade products in our locations. Be sure to check them out at your next visit!