Friends and supporters of fair trade and responsible business will gather on Saturday, May 10, 2025, on the campus of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. On the occasion of World Fair Trade Day, the Faculty of Economics is organizing its traditional community picnic in support of farmers worldwide. With this Fair Breakfast, the faculty will join more than a hundred other locations where thousands of people will come together at the same time to express their concern for farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Most of these farmers live in poverty due to colonial history and the unfair setup of international trade. From the price of our cup of coffee, they receive on average just over 1 Czech crown, and from a bar of chocolate 2–3 crowns. Furthermore, they are affected by climate change, to which they contribute minimally due to their lifestyle and limited consumption.
Fair trade provides a response to this situation. Thanks to this system, farmers can earn a decent living through their own work. They receive a fairer purchase price for their crops, as well as a Fairtrade premium—bonus funds for the development of local communities. This means their children don’t have to work in the fields, and the farming can be environmentally friendly.
The principle of the Fair Breakfast is simple. Participants come together to enjoy products certified by Fairtrade. This might be coffee, tea, bananas, or orange juice. Chocolate muesli or a homemade cake baked with Fairtrade cocoa and sugar are also suitable. As part of responsible consumption, we can complement these products with organic and local items to support local farmers as well.
“We are once again looking forward to meeting friends and people from the Faculty of Economics and its surroundings. Together, we can use this event to show that we care about the well-being of farmers around the world. We’ll buy local products, bring Fairtrade treats, and children will draw pictures or write messages to farmers on the pavement,” explains Monika Maříková, co-organizer of the event from the Faculty of Economics.
The event has been held on the university campus since 2011, always on the second Saturday in May, which marks World Fair Trade Day, and takes place simultaneously at more than a hundred locations across the Czech Republic. In the campus of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, the event will start at 10 am; in case of bad weather, it will move to the University’s Academic Library.
“Fair Breakfast is the largest event in the Czech Republic supporting responsible consumption. The organization of this community picnic is ensured by volunteers: students, teachers, librarians, pastors, or scouts. Thanks to their involvement, more than 7,700 people gathered at a total of 147 locations across the country last year. Fairtrade is not just a certification system, but a global movement that connects millions of farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with millions of active consumers,” explains Stanislav Komínek from Fairtrade Czech Republic and Slovakia, the organization coordinating the event.
