PRODUCT NETWORKS

Another organization structure is a set of Product Networks of the CLAC, which involves international networks of Small Fair Trade producer organizations, who organized to attend the problems and strategies for a particular product. Nowadays the members of CLAC produce, among a myriad of other products, the following certified products:

• Nuts, oil, seeds
• Sugar
• Banana
• Cocoa
• Coffee
• Fresh Fruits
• Dry Fruits
• Juices
• Honey
• Tea
• Wine

The Coffee, Banana and Honey Networks are the ones with a more active organic life and a longer trajectory of 6 to 10 years. Other networks are still in the process of conformation, although some of them, particularly the juices and dry fruits networks, have held meetings and workshops on specific subjects.

In a similar way to the case of the National Networks, the organic functioning of the Product Networks do not depend on the central structure of CLAC; they work as autonomous entities that nevertheless meet and coordinate through the Board which functions as a central coordination entity:

•  Developing knowledge on regulations and functioning of the Fair Trade systems for a particular product.

•  Contributing with analysis and proposals regarding the Fair Trade system for a particular product.

•  Analysis and building of alternatives for small producers in the Fair Trade Markets, as well as for the conventional market for a specific product.

•  Exchange of experiences, trainings and development of common strategies regarding Quality Control, commercialization, certification and marketing.