Editing Fair trade (section)

==== Alternative trading organizations ====
{{Main|Alternative trading organization}}
[[File:Cafedirectcoffeeshop.JPG|thumb|right|[[Cafedirect]] coffee shop on [[Regent Street]] in central London.]]

An alternative trading organization (ATO) is usually a non-governmental organization (NGO) or mission-driven business aligned with the fair trade movement that aims "to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in developing regions of the world by establishing a system of trade that allows marginalized producers in developing regions to gain access to developed markets."<ref name="European Fair 1998 p.23 & 25">European Fair Trade Association (1998). ''Fair Trade Yearbook: Towards 2000''. p.&nbsp;23 & 25</ref> ATOs have fair trade at the core of their mission and activities, using it as a development tool to support disadvantaged producers and to reduce poverty<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poverty Reduction Strategies {{!}} Urban Opportunity Agenda |url=https://uoa.cnt.org/strategies/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=uoa.cnt.org |archive-date=2022-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408235741/https://uoa.cnt.org/strategies/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and combining their marketing with awareness-raising and campaigning.

ATOs are often based on political and religious groups, though their secular purpose precludes sectarian identification and evangelical activity.

According to EFTA, the defining characteristic of ATOs is equal partnership and respect–partnership between the developing region producers and importers, shops, labelling organizations, and consumers. Alternative trade "humanizes" the trade process–making the producer-consumer chain as short as possible so that consumers become aware of the culture, identity, and conditions in which producers live. {{clarify|text=All actors|date=March 2022}} are committed to the principle of alternative trade, the need for {{clarify|text=advocacy in their working relations|date=March 2022}}, and the importance of awareness-raising and advocacy work.<ref name="European Fair 1998 p.23 & 25" /> Examples of such organisations are Ten Thousand Villages, Greenheart Shop, [[Equal Exchange]], and SERRV International in the U.S. and [[Equal Exchange Trading]], [[Traidcraft]], Oxfam Trading, [[Twin Trading]], and Alter Eco in Europe as well as Siem Fair Trade Fashion in Australia.