Several years ago we heard about a labor dispute in Washington. A group of farmworkers organized as Familias Unidas por la Justicia had coordinated a series of walkouts and lawsuits to demand changes at the farm, including paid breaks, better housing, higher pay, among other improvements. By the time we heard about their struggles, they […]

As Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Few would deny the power and importance of education. Parents around the world go to great lengths to secure education for their children. In the United States, much of the discussion around schools and education is […]

Earlier this year, California passed legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour for all workers, including farmworkers. As farmworkers wait for this to go into full effect, there is news that they may get a more immediate bump in pay through changed overtime rules. Legislation requiring farms to pay overtime after 8 hours a […]

Positive Progress Between Sakuma Brothers Farm and Familias Unidas por la Justicia August 30, 2016     Fair World Project is pleased to report positive progress in talks between Sakuma Brothers Farm (Sakuma) and Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ).   FUJ, an independent farmworker union, has been asking to negotiate a contract with management […]

President Obama has positioned himself as a global leader in addressing climate change. He has also championed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive trade deal involving 12 countries along the Pacific Rim. But he can’t truly support both. The TPP will contribute to climate chaos and be an obstacle to any progress in climate mitigation […]

Throughout the primaries, conventions, and now leading up to the general election, we have heard a lot about the presidential candidates. We’ve heard a lot about emails, national security, character traits, and a host of other topics. But not nearly enough about food and farming. As the HEAL Alliance explains: Our food system is controlled […]

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Tomy Matthew, leader of Fair Trade Alliance Kerala, a visionary group of small-scale farmers in Kerala, India. He shared their vision for a truly transformative version of fair trade that supports the livelihoods of farmers around the world—and, as he stresses, in a climate-challenged world, impacts […]

We’ve been sounding the alarm about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for years. Negotiated in secret, it is no surprise that the final version of this toxic trade agreement will undermine sustainable farmers, working families, the environment, and public health. These impacts will be very real and will impact all of us. Congress still needs to […]

Many people, when they think about fair trade, think about food or they think about handicrafts. Many people, when they think about body care products, think about what those products can do for their skin or hair. Though fair trade and body care lack an immediate association for many people, the two have a meaningful […]

by Kerstin Lindgren The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is expected to bring a net, but marginal, boost to the economy, according to a new study by the U.S. International Trade Commission. We can expect a loss of manufacturing jobs, not a fact to take lightly, but the sector expected to tip the balance in favor of […]