fair trade usa
fair trade usa — fair trade usa is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization, and the leading third - party certifier of fair trade products in the united states. fair trade usa is an independent organization and not affiliated with fairtrade international .
fair trade usa is a joke. i worked in the uk for the fairtrade foundation, a member of flo and they have accelerated the growth of fair trade faster than fair trade usa ever will. why? because fair trade is about people first, not profit in paul rice’s corporation fair trade usa .
fair trade certified™ is the global brand of fair trade usa, the nonprofit organization. look for the fair trade certified seal on products, available worldwide .
still, fair trade can and must do more. this is why fair trade usa is embarking on a new vision ,
iatp incorporates transfair usa, the first u. s. fair - trade certification body
if you have comments or suggestions about any fair trade usa standards, policies, or requirements, email the fair trade standards team .
fair trade usa is the leading fair trade certifying body in north america, operating globally alongside the european - based fairtrade international. colleen anunu, fair trade usa’s senior manager of supply chain, reflects on some of fair trade’s achievements and challenges, with a focus on the coffee sector. she also explains how fair trade usa and oikocredit are teaming up to reduce price risks for coffee farmers .
fair trade usa' s split from flo: issues and implications
laura t. raynolds and douglas l. murray | center for fair and alternative trade
for more details, read fwp’s statement on fair trade usa? s resignation from fairtrade international (flo) .
4. what is fair trade: impact, ” fairtrade usa, accessed october 6, 2013, urltoken .
fair trade products, like this nicaraguan coffee, have attracted customers who care about sustainability. but is fair trade usa doing enough? photograph: janet jarman / corbis
every purchase supports something. fair trade exists so we can support what’s fair .
fair trade helps put an end to unjust and unsustainable practices in global trade .
fair trade usa is proud to announce the release of our 2011 fair trade almanac. each year, fair trade usa’s certification department collects data from both our business partners and producer organizations, and complies it all into one easily - digestible report that serves as a key indicator for the health and growth of fair trade in the united states .
billy linstead goldsmith joined fair trade usa in 2009 as the first national coordinator of fair trade towns in the u. s. , a global grassroots movement of fair trade advocates focused on normalizing fair trade as an institutional practice and consumer preference that today boasts over 2, 000 fair trade towns across 32 countries and on 6 continents. under billy’s leadership, the movement has evolved from a handful of towns into fair trade campaigns, a national network of advocacy groups comprised of nearly 300 local campaigns with formal programs for fair trade towns, fair trade colleges & universities, fair trade schools and fair trade congregations .
producers selling products with the fair trade certified™ seal may be certified against fair trade usa standards or fairtrade international standards. fair trade usa fully recognizes and accepts producers certified against fairtrade international standards to sell fair trade certified products. acceptance of fairtrade international certification encourages all eligible producers to become (or remain) certified under fairtrade international standards and helps avoid duplicative audits. fair trade usa and flocert coordinate to ensure the sharing and transfer of records necessary to maintain compliance .
october is officially fair trade month, and fair trade usa founder and ceo paul rice is both optimistic and realistic about the impact of fair trade certified products for lifting farmers and producers in poor, developing nations out of poverty .
fair trade usa is a nonprofit, but an unusually sustainable one. it gets most of its revenues from service fees from retailers. for every pound of fair trade coffee sold in the united states, retailers must pay 10 cents to fair trade usa. that 10 cents helps the organization promote its brand, which has led some in the coffee business to say that fair trade usa is primarily a marketing organization…
on behalf of equal exchange, the enterprise largely responsible for introducing fair trade commodities to the us market back in the 80s, we respectfully disagree with fair trade usa and their claim that their new approach will “double fair trade’s impact” .
green mountain coffee roasters, which calls itself the largest buyer of fair trade coffee in the world, said that it would continue to work with fair trade usa as it sought to increase the amount of fair trade coffee it used .
every $ 1 fair trade usa has spent since 1999 has generated more than $ 5 in additional farmer and worker income .
fair trade usa' s split from flo: issues and implications
laura t. raynolds and douglas l. murray
fair trade helps make the right choices the easiest ones. look for the fair trade certified™ seal when you shop .
fair trade usa resigned our membership from flo in order to eliminate these inconsistencies which exclude so many from the benefits of fair trade. beginning in coffee, we are adapting fair trade standards for both workers on large farms and independent small holders. through this more inclusive model, fair trade usa can reach over 4 million farm workers who are currently excluded from the system .
already sell some fair trade coffee. “we see a real momentum now with big companies and institutions switching to fair trade, ” said paul rice, president and chief executive of transfair usa, the only independent fair trade certifier in the united states .
fair trade has become a stronger and more vibrant presence in global trade, linking companies and consumers worldwide. thousands of brands and products from farms and factories in more than 70 countries are now fair trade certified. fair trade usa has played its part, such as by helping develop markets for fair trade clothing and sea food and encouraging the sale and promotion of fair trade produce by towns and universities .
3. what is fair trade, ” fair trade resource network. accessed october 6, 2013, urltoken, 2 .
you can support fair trade anytime, anywhere. see how you can make a difference by mobilizing fair trade in your community .
motivated by the impact of the fair trade model, rice founded fair trade usa in october of 1998. combined with organizations like fair trade international, the global reach of fair trade certified products includes tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate, cocoa, herbs, spices, honey, wine, flowers, grain, and rubber .
the company is participating in a pilot project with fair trade usa involving a 500 - acre organic coffee plantation in brazil, a farm that previously would have been too large to get fair trade certification .
fair trade usa is guided by a diverse team of leaders who are united under our mission to alleviate global poverty and promote sustainable development .
fair trade usa enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, fishermen, consumers, industry, and the earth. we achieve our mission by certifying and promoting fair trade products .
in 2009, fairtrade international (flo) along with the world fair trade organization adopted the charter of fair trade principles, which provides a single international reference point for fair trade. the charter includes our common vision, definition of fair trade, core principles and the distinct approaches to fair trade. fairtrade international endorses the definition of fair trade and adheres to the principles. find out more here .
shoppers in established fair trade markets also bought more. the largest fair trade markets had strong growth: 14 percent in the uk and 7 percent in the usa. retail sales of fair trade certified products in the united states reached an estimated $ 1. 2 billion in 2009. for detailed statistics on the growth of fair trade certified imports into the united states, check out transfair usa' s 2009 almanac .
actually, fair trade usa does not certify companies or businesses. we partner with businesses to certify individual products, facilities, and producer groups .
“in fair trade, sales correlate directly to impact in farming communities, so we’re thrilled to see growth across all channels, ” said cate baril, director of business development, grocery and ingredients for fair trade usa .
boston, ma, march 29, 2012 – dfta has issued a call to fair trade usa to be accountable to the fair trade movement in north america, transparent about processes and policies, and authentically engage stakeholders .
fair trade has made a huge difference in my life ,
says ulysma desiline, a fair trade mango grower in haiti .
working with a fair trade cooperative allows me to support my family .
paul rice, chief executive of fair trade usa, said the fair trade movement was dominated by hard - liners who resisted needed changes. “we’re all debating what do we want fair trade to be as it grows up, ” mr. rice said. “do we want it to be small and pure or do we want it to be fair trade for all? ”
on monday, october 24, 2011 cfat co - directors laura raynolds and douglas murray presented “fair trade usa’s split from flo: issues and implications. ”
fair trade usa, oikocredit and others have launched a price risk management project for latin american coffee cooperatives. can you tell us more about this project ?
paul rice is president & ceo of fair trade usa, the leading third - party certifier of fair trade in the united states. previously, paul worked for 11 years as a rural development specialist in nicaragua, where he founded the country’s first fair trade, organic coffee export cooperative. paul holds a ba from yale university and an mba from haas school of business at the university of california at berkeley. follow fair trade usa on twitter: @ fairtradeusa
how does fair trade u. s. a. work with other organizations or trade unions on wider issues ?
bennett leads the tech team at fair trade usa as they build and manage tools to collect, analyze, and communicate data across supply chains around the world .
we are proud of the work fair trade usa and our partners have accomplished, but as 2 billion people still live on less than $ 2 usd a day, there is much more to be done. as we move into a new year, fair trade usa has chosen to buck the status quo, take a risk, challenge the norm, and go where no organization has gone before to make fair trade truly fair for all .
2. “sixty years of fair trade: a brief history of the fair trade movement. nov. 2006, accessed october 5, 2013, urltoken .
maya spaull, senior director of apparel and home goods at fair trade usa, spearheads the strategic development of the fair trade manufacturing program. in this role, she oversees all aspects of bringing fair trade apparel and home goods products to market, connecting stakeholders in the sector and building fair trade supply chains with leading global brands and factories. maya' s commitment to economic sustainability for global communities and her deep belief in positive systems change is grounded in her early work as an ethnobotanist. maya has worked at fair trade usa since 2004, managing a multitude of products including tea, honey, wine, cosmetics and developed ft usa’s seafood program .
there are many voices in the fair trade movement, all united under a common mission to alleviate poverty through trade. flo, one group in the global movement, is focused on small farmers organized into cooperatives. fair trade usa, another voice, believes that fair trade has to work for all kinds of producers to make a meaningful dent in global poverty .
the fair trade standards strictly prohibit use of genetically modified organisms (gmos) .
fair trade raises awareness that it is possible to help citizens in developing countries .
if fair trade improves its certification procedures, we can increase our support later .
not necessarily; although, over half of all fair trade certified products imported into the usa are also organic, and fair trade does incentivize organic farming by making training and resources available for farmers, and by offering a higher price for organic goods .
fair trade usa partnered with nmi as part of its broad - reaching “the state of sustainability in america” study, which will be released at the end of march 2016 .
maya is an experienced ambassador for fair trade usa, often visiting with fair trade producer groups and representing the organization at global industry events. prior to joining fair trade usa, maya worked in the gemstone industry on sourcing and sales. she also developed and sold her own line of jewelry. maya is a mother, avid gardener, dancer, music enthusiast, and works locally in the bay area on sustainable food issues .
since fair trade launched 50 years ago, european consumer awareness about fair trade has grown to well over 80 percent. yet in the united states, where the movement is younger, only about 34 percent of consumers are aware of fair trade .
having trouble finding fair trade products where you shop? sometimes all you have to do is ask! requesting more fair trade products is as easy as filling out a comment card or speaking directly with the manager. explain that you want to make every purchase matter by buying fair trade. it helps to name specific products or product categories and to direct the manager to the fair trade usa website urltoken to learn more .
wal - mart and whole foods also sell fair trade coffee and use fair trade ingredients in store - brand products; both companies said they were evaluating the situation .
in addition, a legal presence is needed in the usa to help businesses remain in the international fairtrade system. please visit fairtrade america for more information on our efforts in the usa .
fair trade usa is a nonprofit, but an unusually sustainable one. it gets most of its revenues from service fees from retailers. for every pound of fair trade coffee sold in the united states, retailers must pay 10 cents to fair trade usa. that 10 cents helps the organization promote its brand, which has led some in the coffee business to say that fair trade usa is primarily a marketing organization. in 2009, the nonprofit had a budget of $ 10 million, 70 percent of which was funded by fees. the remaining 30 percent came from philanthropic contributions, mostly from foundation grants and private donors .
follow the steep, winding trail of colombian fair trade coffee through the sierra nevadas .
explore job openings at fair trade and find out how you can join the movement .
traidcraft organises ‘people to people tours’ that include visits to their fair trade producer partners .
educate your friends and family about fair trade by sharing a video. fair trade can be a tricky concept to grasp, so the new fair trade month psa features a simple explanation from a 7 - year - old who also happens to be an expert shopper. visit the fair trade certified youtube page to find even more educational videos .
about two dozen countries have fair trade labeling organizations that license companies to market fair trade products. fairtrade international provides a uniform logo for use on packaging in most countries .
what is fair trade u. s. a. ’s stance on “living wages” ?
in 1998, four european fair trade organizations banded together to form an international coalition to promote and more clearly define fair trade practices around the world. calling their coalition fine, these organizations set forth one of the most commonly used definitions of fair trade :
there are two different types of fair trade certification: organizational recognition and producer certification .
fair trade usa, the movement’s leading advocate in the united states, angered critics by saying it would cut its ties at year’s end with the main international fair trade group and make far - reaching changes in the sorts of products that get its seal of approval .
he said the company would decide in the next few weeks whether it would continue to work with fair trade usa or arrange to use the fairtrade international logo on its products instead .
critics accuse fair trade usa of watering down standards, perhaps motivated by the bigger fees to be earned from certifying a higher volume of products. some sellers of fair trade products fear that small coffee farmers will lose market share to the big plantations and that companies will have an incentive to include only the minimum amount of fair trade ingredients in their products .
…as the name implies, fair trade has sought not only to protect farmers but also to correct the legacy of the colonial mercantilist system… to its credit, fair trade usa has played a significant role in getting american consumers to pay more attention to the economic plight of poor coffee growers. although fair trade coffee still accounts for only a small fraction of overall coffee sales, the market for fair trade coffee has grown markedly over the last decade, and purchases of fair trade coffee have helped improve the lives of many small growers .
while coffee is still the leader in fair trade (over 1 billion pounds certified since 1998), many (30 +) new fair trade categories have emerged over the years. you can find fair trade in nearly every aisle of the supermarket, and can live a truly fair trade lifestyle with the introduction of new apparel and home goods products .
well, technically it does, but the great part about fair trade month is that it gives you the tools needed to bring fair trade into your daily life beyond october .
perhaps the most unique element about the fair - trade system is the fair - trade premium, an additional amount of money that brands contribute into a worker run bank account .
it' s convenient that fair trade month and halloween share a month, because both occasions provide a great opportunity to promote fair trade. the easiest place to start is by ensuring that your halloween chocolate is fair trade certified. costume ideas that make a statement: dress as a fair trade certified banana, cup of coffee or chocolate bar. when someone asks about your costume, take the time to explain why fair trade matters to you .
visit the fair trade certified fan page and you will find a robust community of fair traders like you! regular updates will help you stay up - to - date on the latest news in the fair trade world, including frequent giveaways, stories from fair trade farms, delicious recipes, and information about fair trade events. become a fan to demonstrate your support for fair trade, then take your support a step further by becoming a fan of brands that sell fair trade certified products. this is a good way to let them know that you like what they' re doing !
we also run two annual campaigns, one for fair trade month and one mother’s day .
the group says the changes will benefit more poor farmers and farm workers around the world and make it easier for large corporations to sell fair trade products. sales of fair trade goods in 2010 were $ 1. 3 billion in the united states and $ 5. 8 billion globally. fair trade usa said it hoped to double sales in the united states by 2015 .
in addition, brands that launch fair trade feel rewarded with positive outcomes and usually grow their commitments. patagonia, for example, launched with 11 fair trade certified women’s products in 2014, and now offers over 200 fair trade products across their men’s, women’s and kid’s portfolio .
a complete list of fair trade premium amounts and fair trade minimum prices for all products we currently certify. products with special price terms are further explained in special price and premium terms .
despite this, blake morton is a vocal supporter of fair trade and is convinced that a 100% fair trade concept will help distinguish her from competitors and drive business to the store .
the 2011 edition showcases monumental growth in fair trade certified™ imports, record - breaking community development premiums, and fair trade usa’s reinvigorated efforts to strengthen producer organizations through a variety of new cooperative development programs. this parallels significant increase in consumer awareness, which has quadrupled in the past 5 years .
ms. yusen said that green mountain bought 26 million pounds of fair trade coffee in 2010; in that year, it paid $ 1. 5 million in licensing fees to fair trade usa, making it the largest source of revenue for the nonprofit group, according to federal tax filings .
fairtrade international – the international fairtrade system is made up of fairtrade international and its member organizations, including 19 national fairtrade organizations representing 24 countries. fair trade usa is not a member of fairtrade international .
american consumers have so much power. every time we go to the store we can vote with our dollars for a better world .
- paul rice, president & ceo of fair trade usa
on september 15 th, fairtrade international (flo) and fair trade usa (ftusa) jointly announced that ftusa is resigning its membership in flo, effective december 31, 2011. ftusa? s resignation from the flo system is partially due to its new initiative, ? fair trade for all? (urltoken) which it claims will? double the impact? of fair trade by 2015 .
don’t be shy! plug into our passionate fair trade community and take action from absolutely anywhere .
in the united states, fair trade sports produces soccer balls that adhere to fair trade certification standards. fair trade sports has received press in a variety of american and international publications, and their soccer balls have even been publicized in the world cup host country of south africa. in addition to being fair trade certified, these soccer balls are colorful, eco - certified and vegan .
to see what a business partnership with fair trade looks like, please visit our business page .
why do consumers buy fair trade products? list a few reasons and analyze each of them .
we certify all products bearing the fair trade certified seal to fulfill our mission, which is to cultivate a more equitable model for global trade .
“this growth in fair trade offerings indicates that consumers increasingly care about what happens at the other of the supply - chain—that the farmers who grow the foods they love can take care of their land, their families, and themselves, ” said sri artham, vice president of cpg at fair trade usa. “it’s clear that the brands supporting fair trade are rewarded by consumers voting with their dollars. ”
so we now have the corporatizing of fair trade in the usa. because as we learned in the wood wars between sfi and fsc, workers rights, coops and unions are an anathema to american business .
meanwhile, a lot of canadian roasters, who remain committed to fair trade international, are gearing up to sell more in the usa to people who believe this is important. i love kicking horse coffee .
beverages: third street expands offerings to three new chai flavors. hiball launches fair trade alta palla sparkling water, cold brew and protein drinks. honest tea ’s entire line of products will now source 100% fair trade certified™ tea and sugar. bj’s wholesale club launches a line of fair trade certified™ wellsley farms coffee. kroger launches a line of simple truth fair trade teas as well as a new private label coffee. zico expands fair trade coconut water selection with new 1 - liter offerings .
ben joined fair trade usa in late 2012 to help strengthen fair trade’s role as a platform for sustainable supply chain management, in service of the needs of farmers and their buyers alike. as director of coffee supply, ben leads the organization’s investment in producer services, industry collaboration, and supply chain development .
“starbucks, green mountain and other coffee companies will be able to become 100 percent fair trade not because they’ve changed their business practices one iota but because fair trade usa has changed the rules of the game, ” said dean cycon, founder of the dean’s beans organic coffee company, in orange, mass .
thanks for the conversation. it’s good to see something directly from ft usa on how they see the situation .
14. fairtrade usa, “starbucks, transfair usa and fairtrade labelling organizations international join in support of small - scale coffee farmers through a $ 20 million loan program, ” press release, april 16, 2009, urltoken .
the logo overload will include a redesigned fair trade usa seal; a fairtrade international seal, which previously did not appear in this country; and labels from smaller programs, like one run by catholic relief services .
ruskin has 20 years of non - profit leadership and management experience and a proven track record of executing strategic resource development programs that engage supporters in advancing mission - based businesses. he joined fair trade usa in 2016 to spearhead the $ 25 million fair trade for all capital campaign and build a robust philanthropy program .
“it’s critical that consumers see the fair trade certified label as a symbol of social and environmental integrity, ” said mary jo cook, vice president of marketing and business development for fair trade usa. “therefore, we have established the new policy to promote consumer confidence through greater label disclosure and enhanced online resources. ”
provides definitions for the terminology used in the fair trade standards, compliance criteria, and associated documents .
if you wear fair trade clothing, you have a hand in the making of these stories too .
founder of green mountain coffee roasters, inc. invests $ 10 million in the future of fair trade
between the increasing prevalence of fair trade soccer balls and the rise of fair trade in host country south africa, the world cup is proving to relate to fair trade issues on multiple levels. as you watch the games in the coming weeks, consider these issues along with the events on the field .
producer networks, which represent the interests of fairtrade certified small - scale producers, workers and other stakeholders, are concerned about the changes in the global fairtrade system and the departure of fair trade usa (ftusa) .
in breaking with flo, fair trade usa has declared its keen readiness to certify coffee plantations, as well as take the necessary steps to rapidly expand fair trade certification and sales, while providing “farmers with tools, training and resources to thrive as international businesspeople. ” starbucks is no doubt ecstatic over the move as it will now be able to expand its certification without making major changes to its business practices. in fact, the door is now wide open for any number of changes to ‘fair trade’ certification as corporate partners line up to propose suggestions to fair trade usa, willing to do what it takes to get more corporations on board .
fair trade organizations and members of the grassroots fair trade movement, including fair trade towns and universities, faith groups and ngos, have been an integral part to the growth of both fairtrade certification in the us and to campaigning for trade justice for farmers and workers around the world. we strongly believe that by working together we are stronger than we are alone .
byler’s efforts constituted a precursor of fair trade, but the first organizations to utilize the fair trade designation in its modern sense were european. the first fair trade organization in europe was in the united kingdom, an offshoot of oxfam uk, which during the 1950s had sold crafts made by chinese refugees. by 1964, this had developed into the fair trade organization, and in 1967, the netherlands initiated its own cooperative, fair trade original. following a concept similar to that of the ten thousand villages storefronts in the united states, the dutch opened a fair trade world shop in 1969. world shops became the first retail distribution network of fair trade products and the first european world shops conference was held in 1984. 2
as of the beginning of january, fair trade usa is no longer part of the world fair trade organization, and has
gone its own way .
paul rice, president and ceo, tries to justify this in triple pundit, suggesting that by making certain changes, they could double their impact in three years. the most important change is in certification of coffee, where fair trade certification was limited to farmers cooperatives .
take the time to teach a friend or family member about the importance of fair trade. help them to understand why every purchase matters and why farmers in the developing world need our support. we find that teachable moments are best created over a delicious fair trade certified chocolate bar, a cup of tea, or scoop of ice cream made with fair trade certified ingredients. share these two - minute videos to help explain the impact of fair trade, the environmental benefits of fair trade, and the power of the consumer .
regardless of the ongoing controversy about its legitimacy, it appears that fair trade certification is here to stay .
5. “who we are, ” world fair trade organization, accessed november 25, 2014, urltoken .
sales of fair trade certified products grew in the us by 63 percent last quarter from the previous quarter, reflecting a rapid acceptance of fair trade by mainstream retailers and growing awareness by consumers. fair trade products represent 800 brands sold in at least 100, 000 retail outlets for total sales of $ 1. 5 billion .
there are a number of reports and investigations that indicate that fair trade inspections are unreliable. some of these criticisms have come from former insiders, such as christian jacquiau and paola ghillani, formerly associated with fairtrade labelling organizations. 15 in 2006, a financial times investigation of fair trade in peru revealed that out of ten mills that claimed to sell fair trade coffee, all ten had sold uncertified coffee as certified. it also found that workers on fair trade farms were often paid beneath the minimum wage, in violation of fair trade standards .
fair trade usa is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations in order to expand the reach and impact of fair trade. your gift supports our life - changing work with farmer and worker families across latin america, africa, and asia. economic security. schools. scholarships. life - saving medical care. women’s empowerment. environmental sustainability .
at the end of the day, these innovations will bring the benefits of fair trade to far more farmers and workers; enable more businesses to develop reliable and ethical supply chains; allow more retailers to offer more fair trade certified products; and give consumers a broader selection of quality fair trade certified products from which to choose .
the flo model has changed little since its inception. although the fair trade price and premium for coffee has been adjusted upward over time, the rules and regulations have remained fairly static. fair trade’s chief legacy may be greater consumer awareness among coffee drinkers. “we generate awareness to create demand in the market, ” explains stacy wagner, public relations manager at fair trade usa. and they have had tremendous success doing so. today, according to wagner, 50 percent of american households are aware of fair trade coffee, up from only 9 percent in 2005 .
why have so few universities in the us joined fair trade universities (usa) compared to the scores in the uk. since 2008, only six or seven universities out of 3000 + / - have joined despite its ideological appeal .
news, announcements, and real - life stories about the fair trade vision unfolding as a way of life .
vancouver fair trade did a good job summarizing some of the background information regarding the split. read more to learn up on the issue. crs has also done a good job of unpacking the implications for fair trade producers .
downie, andrew. “fair trade in bloom. ” new york times. october 2, 2007. urltoken .
bennett joined fair trade usa to bring systems and process to the marketing and communications team. he then started the tech team in order to accomplish similar goals across the organization. prior to joining fair trade usa, bennett led the strategy practice at a digital marketing agency where he created scalable global digital communications strategies for fortune 500 brands. he received his bachelor’s degree from the university of north carolina at chapel hill and his mba from the university of north carolina at charlotte .
like many economic and political movements, the fair trade movement arose to address the perceived failure of the market and remedy important social issues. as the name implies, fair trade has sought not only to protect farmers but also to correct the legacy of the colonial mercantilist system and the kind of crony capitalism where large businesses obtain special privileges from local governments, preventing small businesses from competing and flourishing. to its credit, fair trade usa has played a significant role in getting american consumers to pay more attention to the economic plight of poor coffee growers. although fair trade coffee still accounts for only a small fraction of overall coffee sales, the market for fair trade coffee has grown markedly over the last decade, and purchases of fair trade coffee have helped improve the lives of many small growers .
starbucks, which has about 11, 000 coffee shops in the united states, also said that it planned to continue using fair trade usa to certify coffee it sells in this country. however, the company said that it had not decided whether to place a fair trade label on coffee grown on large plantations. starbucks said that about 8 percent of the coffee used in its global operations came from fair trade farms in 2010, or about 21 million pounds .
fair trade usa (ie. transfair usa) recently announced its intention to resign its membership in the umbrella organization fairtrade international (ie. fairtrade labelling organizations international). on september 15, 2011, flo and ftusa released a joint statement stating that whereas the two groups share a common belief system, they have different perspectives in how to achieve fair trade goals and objectives. while ftusa will no longer be operating within the flo system as of the end of the year, both groups stress that they will remain committed to core fair trade principles as they transition into separate governance spheres .
this october is the 9th annual fair trade month. throughout the month, ethically - minded consumers, retailers and brands will unite to celebrate and promote fair trade. a variety of education events, in - store sampling programs and online initiatives have been planned to help increase awareness and sales of fair trade certified products, ultimately leading to greater impact for farmers and workers in developing countries. the theme for fair trade month 2012 is count me in .
liz forwand joined fair trade usa in 2016 as the director of business process and quality assurance. she is responsible for designing business process and quality management systems that ensure high quality products and services are efficiently and effectively delivered to all fair trade usa stakeholders. in this capacity, she works with teams across the organization to drive innovation in internal processes, and design program structures that align with industry compliance requirements and recognized best practices in the field of standard setting and assurance systems .
“our ongoing commitment to small - scale farmers remains intact, ” sandy yusen, a green mountain spokeswoman, said. “we also believe that fair trade usa’s vision presents new opportunities that allow us to impact even more farmers and workers. ”
it is becoming easier and easier to find fair trade products in your neighborhood. you can now find 10, 000 fair trade certified™ products on stores shelves throughout the u. s. come october, be sure to keep an eye out for the launch of the fair trade finder application for facebook, i - phone and android platforms. the fair trade finder will allow you to find and tag your favorite fair trade products in a store near you, generating greater impact for the farmers and workers around the world whose hands go into making the products we love .
you can also ask for fair trade to be served at your school or office. encouraging a large organization to go fair trade is a very effective way to increase the impact for farmers and workers in more than 58 countries .
to become a fair trade vendor or brand and obtain the right to use one of the authorized trademarks or labels, importers and vendors are certified by national fair trade organizations. such brands are recognized as trading only products from authorized suppliers who, in turn, buy from farms that pay their workers a fair wage and follow sustainable practices. when you see a product in a supermarket or store that is labeled fair trade, it indicates that the brand has sought and obtained certification from a national fair trade organization .
fair trade honors women who challenge the status quo, standing out and standing up for gender equality around the world .
rink dickinson, the president of equal exchange, an importer of fair trade coffee, chocolate, tea and bananas .
when you buy fair trade certified products, you’re voting for sustainable livelihoods, thriving worker communities, and environmental protection .
fair trade had grown from humble origins to the point where it could be claimed that it was having a major impact on global coffee production. by 2009, fair trade coffee had become a $ 1. 8 billion market. 12
haight, colleen. “the problem with fair trade coffee. ” stanford social innovation review. summer 2011. urltoken .
the world' s leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry. make sure you are part of it .
1 fair trade usa website. 2 urltoken. 3 international coffee association website. 4 ibid. 5 transfair usa 2009 almanac, p. 10. 6 urltoken. 7 colleen haight ,
is fair trade in coffee production fair and useful? evidence from costa rica and guatemala and implications for policy ,
mercatus policy series, policy comment 11, june 2007. 8 jesus gonzales from the tajumuco cooperative, guatemala, as quoted in un mundo de certificacion, a video produced for the 2005 specialty coffee association of america meetings in seattle. 9 urltoken .
unique and noteworthy: i heart keenwah expands offerings with a new line of toasted quinoa hot cereal, made with fair trade certified quinoa. spectrum expands fair trade certified chia offerings to three new supplements: organic ground chia, warrior vitality blend and decadent blend; and launches organic all vegetable shortening, the first product made with fair trade certified palm oil .
one of the reasons for the complexity of the fair trade system is that there is no universal fair trade authority. there are several important international organizations that serve a coordinating function, but none of these has the power to impose standards on all players in the field. in fact, there are many different kinds of fair trade organizations: international nonprofit organizations, regional nonprofit organizations, local nonprofit organizations that certify fair trade brands, local nonprofit organizations that certify fair trade farming and exporting cooperatives, and finally, both nonprofit and for - profit inspection organizations that visit the farming cooperatives to determine whether they meet the criteria to be certified as fair trade. let us describe a few of the most important organizations .
the concluding months of 2011 were marked by a period of great change and innovation in the fair trade movement: a time of unprecedented forward thinking and passionate debate about what it means to be fair trade certified. we now find ourselves at an exciting crossroads. fair trade usa has boldly questioned the status quo and is moving in a new direction to significantly increase the effectiveness and reach of the fair trade model. at the beginning of this new year, we couldn’t be more hopeful about what lies ahead, knowing that as a result of these innovations, we could double our impact in just three years .
the above - described organizations are just a few of the literally hundreds of nonprofit and for - profit organizations operating in the fair trade sector. next, let us describe how the process works in bringing fair trade products to your kitchen .
to back up his argument, north points to brazilian plantations that opted in – and later opted out – of the fair trade usa pilot project. the workers on these plantations, he claims, are clearly not in control. “ [ they ] work for an owner who can drop fair trade whenever convenient, which we’ve already seen happen in brazil, ” he says .
through this network, billy also manages a range of strategic partnerships for fair trade usa including nonprofit organizations within the fair trade movement as well as important stakeholders in the larger social justice and sustainability movements. billy and his team are focused on activating consumers to make a difference through their own purchasing decisions, influencing their fellow community members, increasing the availability and visibility of fair trade locally, and leveraging the immense purchasing power of the institutions that they are part of to empower producers around the world .
in its current form, fair trade principles are applied inconsistently. for some product categories, like coffee, fair trade certification is limited to cooperatives, while in other categories, like bananas and tea, workers on large farms can become certified .
outside of the traditional markets, australia and new zealand led the way by increasing fair trade sales by 58 percent, while eastern european countries like the czech republic, latvia and lithuania burst onto the scene as well. these trends show that consumption of fair trade products is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, planting the seeds for a future explosion in the fair trade movement .
sweets & treats: marich chocolates launches 32 new skus dipped in fair trade certified™ chocolate, including triple chocolate toffee, pastel chocolate cherries and milk chocolate sea salt caramel popcorn. tcho expands offerings to five new bars. vosges haut - chocolat expands offerings to five new bars. whole foods 365 everyday value ice cream adds two new fair trade certified™ flavors, french vanilla and cookies & cream. kashi launches two fair trade certified™ golean bars. annie’s launches fair trade certified™ cocoa bunnies cereal .
5. relatively little fair - trade coffee originates from the poorest countries. the poorest coffee - growing countries are in africa: ethiopia, kenya, and tanzania. fair - trade exports from these countries represent less than 10 percent of coffee marketed through fair trade, while the share of fair - trade coffee from middle - income countries such as mexico, brazil, and colombia is many times higher. effective poverty interventions should be targeted at most poor, not the medium - poor .
elsewhere patel writes, “‘fair trade’ isn’t a cure for poverty. it’s a band - aid, a temporary patch. ”
we’re proud to say that 59 percent of the u. s. population is aware of the fair trade certified label .
jennifer chapman joined fair trade usa as head of people in august of 2017. her mandate is to lead the organization’s talent function, and to support a culture where employees thrive. ftusa’s goal is to honor best practices in recruiting, developing and retaining staff .
wto holds its fifth ministerial in cancún, mexico. during the ministerial, iatp organizes the first fair trade fair and launches radio cancún, daily on - the - ground podcast coverage .
from production to purchase, fair trade is a model of sustainable, ethical trade that puts people and planet first. it’s the easiest way to do the most good, every day .
founded in 1998, fair trade usa is the leading independent third - party certifier of fair trade products in north america. we’re a four time winner of fast company’s social capitalist of the year award and the prestigious skoll award for social entrepreneurship, and have been recognized as a leading social venture by the clinton global initiative, ashoka, the klaus schwab foundation and the world economic forum .
nestlé, dole, and coca - cola have had particular products certified as fair trade, although they have hardly changed their overall business models. critics worry that starbucks and mcdonald’s have been able to use the seal to sanitize their corporate images, even though only a small fraction of the coffee they sell is fair trade. whole foods and wal - mart use fair trade raw materials in some store - brand products, but whether the finished items reflect equitable trade relationships is questionable. fair trade usa courted international controversy in september when it announced, as the new york times explained, that it would “place its seal on products with as little as 10 percent fair trade ingredients, compared with a minimum of 20 percent required in other countries. ” obviously, even 20 percent is not a number that will impress the radical eater.
fair trade usa , formerly " transfair usa " is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization , that sets standards , certifies , and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment . 
fair trade usa, formerly " transfair usa " is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, that sets standards, certifies, and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment.
fair trade usa, formerly " transfair usa " is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, that sets standards, certifies, and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment.