Herbs & Spices

Since the early days of the spice and herb trade, the industry has become progressively more concentrated. Today, the global spice and herb market is dominated by a handful of companies, with McCormick and Company being the largest. In contrast to manufacturing where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, the growing of spice and herb crops is generally carried out by thousands of small scale farmers dispersed over remote areas. The demand and prices of spices and herbs fluctuate with global weather patterns, past production levels and changes in consumer and manufacturer preferences. In recent years, an increase in the number of countries supplying spices and herbs has led to an overall drop in the market price. These factors can make it very difficult for small-scale farmers to make a decent living.   [Fairtrade International]