Group petitions University for 'fair trade' food

If Princeton Against Protectionism gets its way, food at residential dining halls may still taste the same. But then again, the ingredient the group is trying to introduce — social conscience — is not easily tasted. The group is lobbying the administration for "fair trade" food.

"We thought it was a good opportunity for Princeton to become a leader on a social justice issue that really is economically sensible too," said Glen Weyl '07, the founder of Princeton Against Protectionism (PAP), which was formed last year in opposition to U.S. agricultural policy toward third world countries.

Weyl, a former writer at The Daily Princetonian, said the U.S. government provides American farmers with direct subsidies, meaning they can afford to undersell local farmers in other countries. And because the same U.S. producers are insulated from competition in their home market by heavy tariffs imposed on imports, they can overcharge in the United States. The effect, in Weyl's estimation, has been "perverse."

"It hurts the poor abroad, and it hurts the poor here," he said. "Every economist agrees [the policy] is disastrous."

To counteract the effects of U.S. agricultural policy, some American food suppliers — those that are a part of the "fair trade" movement — offer third world farmers prices for their crops which "reflect what the market would bear without these distortionary policies," Weyl said.

The University already offers several certified "fair trade" foods on campus, Stu Orefice, director of dining services, said in an email. Fair trade coffee is available in residential dining halls, the University bakeshop uses fair trade chocolate and the University "partner[s] with Small World Roasters to offer socially-responsible coffee in all of our campus cafes."

But Princeton Against Protectionism wants to go further.

Weyl said his group has compiled a list of 20 goods from "fair trade" suppliers willing to do business with the University. His next step will be to compare sample prices from these suppliers with the current prices the University pays.

Since he hasn't received any financial details from the University thus far, Weyl can't say whether the difference in price will be small enough to be reasonable, but he thinks chances are good that it will be.

"I would be very surprised if [the difference in] cost was outside of the $100,000 range. And for Princeton, that's really not that much money," he said.

If the price differential appears palatable, the group will make a proposal to the administration.

Weyl said the group is already working with Terrace Club to adopt a similar "fair trade" food buying plan for the eating club, hoping it will "pioneer the program for the University."