<P> Worldshops' aim is to make trade as direct and fair with the trading partners as possible . Usually, this means a producer in a developing country and consumers in industrialized countries . The worldshops' target is to pay the producers a fair price that guarantees substinence and guarantees positive social development . They often cut out any intermediaries in the import chain . A web movement has begun in the 2000s to provide fair trade items at fair prices to the consumers . One popular one is Fair Trade a Day where a different fair trade item is featured each day . </P> <P> Every year the sales of Fair Trade products grow close to 30% and in 2004 were worth over $500 million USD . In the case of coffee, sales grow nearly 50% per year in certain countries . In 2002, 16,000 tons of Fairtrade coffee was purchased by consumers in 17 countries . "Fair trade coffee is currently produced in 24 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia". The 165 FLO associations in Latin America and Caribbean are located in 14 countries and together export over 85% of the world's Fair Trade coffee . There is a North / South divide of fair trade products with producers in the South and consumers in the North . Discrepancies in the perspectives of these southern producers and northern consumers are often the source of ethical dilemmas such as how the purchasing power of consumers may or may not promote the development of southern countries . Amidst the continuous growth, "(p) urchasing patterns of fairtrade products have remained strong despite the global economic downturn . In 2008, global sales of fairtrade products exceeded US $3.5 billion ." </P> <P> Africa's exports come from the places such as South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya . These exports are valued at $24 million USD . Between the years of 2004 and 2006 Africa quickly expanded their number of FLO certified producer groups, rising from 78 to 171; nearly half of which reside in Kenya, following closely behind are Tanzania and South Africa . The FLO products Africa is known for are tea, cocoa, flowers and wine . In Africa there are smallholder cooperatives and plantations which produce Fair Trade certified tea . Cocoa - producing countries in West Africa often form cooperatives that produce fair trade cocoa such as Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana . West African countries without strong fair trade industries are subject to deterioration in cocoa quality as they compete with other countries for a profit . These countries include Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast . </P> <P> Studies in the early 2000s show that the income, education and health of coffee producers involved with Fair Trade in Latin America were improved, versus producers who were not participating . Brazil, Nicaragua, Peru and Guatemala, having the biggest population of coffee producers, make use of some of the most substantial land for coffee production in Latin America and do so by taking part in Fair Trade . Countries in Latin America are also large exporters of fair trade bananas . The Dominican Republic is the largest producer of fair trade bananas, followed by Mexico, Ecuador, and Costa Rica . Producers in the Dominican Republic have set up associations rather than cooperatives so that individual farmers can each own their own land but meet regularly . Fundación Solidaridad was created in Chile to increase the earnings and social participation of handicraft producers . These goods are marketed locally in Chile and internationally . Fair trade handicraft and jewellery production has also shown a significant uplift over recent years, aided by North American and European online retailers developing direct relationships to import and sell the products online . The sale of fair trade handicrafts online has been of particular importance in aiding the development of female artisans in Latin America </P>

What does it mean to be fair trade