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Jessica Prois World Fair Trade Day is May 12. How does this matter? Six months ago I opened a fair trade Store in Storm Lake, Iowa. Storm Lake has a population of about 10,000 diverse souls. At the time we moved here, there were 43 languages spoken by students in the public schools. Whenever there is a quick and large influx other...

Fair World Project & Domestic Fair Trade Association Report Back on The North America Fair Trade Stakeholder Council Summit Note: This summary represents the perspective of the Domestic Fair Trade Association and Fair World Project. The North America Fair Trade Stakeholder Council Summit brought together almost fifty diverse...

Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA) and its new initiative, Fair Trade For All, aims to expand fair trade certification to include coffee plantations. “Fair Trade for All” has been a major point of contention in Fair Trade USA’s split from Fairtrade International (FLO). For more on the Fair Trade...

European Parliament Ahead of the World Fair Trade Day 2012 (12 May 2012), the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, stated: "I would like to congratulate the Fair Trade movement on the occasion of World Fair Trade Day, celebrated around the world this Saturday (12 May 2012). It is a festival of events highlighting Fair...

Face painting Let’s colour the celebration with face painting event! This is a fun event. Paint your face with the WFTDay logo, make a photo of your painted face and send the photo together with your organization’s name to the WFTDay 2011 Drop Box. We will upload the photos on our website on the Community section of...

Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA) and its new initiative, Fair Trade For All, aims to expand fair trade certification to include coffee plantations. “Fair Trade for All” has been a major point of contention in Fair Trade USA’s split from Fairtrade International (FLO). For more on the Fair Trade USA/FLO split, see Fair World Project’s...

To: Fairtrade International Board, Executive Team and the Global Operation Team Fair trade is a social movement and market model that aims to empower small-scale farmers and consumers in underdeveloped countries to create an alternative trading system that supports equitable trading, sustainable development and long-term trading...

USLEAP Statement on Worker Rights, Fair Trade, and the Split between Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International February 2012 Summary: Worker rights issues are central to the recent split between Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) and Fairtrade International (previsouly, Fairtrade Labelling Organizations), specifically Fair Trade certification of...

“Free Trade” Agreements Move Forward Despite widespread protest from farmers, environmentalists and workers, the Obama Administration pushed through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. The new FTAs expand upon the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which has led to weakened environmental standards, increased poverty in...

On January 1st, 2012, Fair Trade USA (FTUSA, formerly TransFair USA) became an indpenendent fair trade certifier and is no longer the US arm of the global fair trade system administered by Fairtrade International (FLO). Fair World Project (FWP) has closely monitored the developing situation of fair trade certifications and certifiers,...

With Fair Trade experiencing monumental change in the past few months, some committed stakeholders in North America started a dialogue initiative in December 2011 to clarify the direction for the Fair Trade movement in North America with the goal of upholding its benefits for marginalized producers around the world. The initiative,...

Fair World Project Organic Consumers Association Equal Exchange Blue People Fair Trade Farmer Direct Co-operative Canaan Fair Trae, USA Ethix Ventures Inc.

www.clac-comerciojusto.orgCOMMUNIQU ON THE FAIR TRADE SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES– a look back at the last six months Directed to: Members of Small Producer Organisations In Latin America and the Caribbean Dear SPO members and other stakeholders, As you know, Fairtrade USA (previously known as TRANSFAIR USA)...

Take Action! Send a letter to Fair Trade USA, Fairtrade International and IMO and urge them to continue supporting small coffee farmers by not certifying plantation coffee. Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA) and its new initiative, Fair Trade For All, aims to expand fair trade certification to include coffee plantations. “Fair Trade for...

Dear Paul, Thank you for responding to Fair World Project’s (FWP) letter and concerns regarding Fair Trade USA’s (FTUSA) labeling and commercial availability standards. I’ve read with great interest that FTUSA is reconsidering its labeling standards and is actively engaging stakeholders on this issue....

On October 19th, Fair World Project (FWP) released a statement declaring that as of January 1, 2012, FWP will not recognize FTUSA as a reputable fair trade certifier unless it reverses its proposed labeling and commercial availability standards. This week, FWP sent a letter to FTUSA to convey FWP’s position on the proposed changes. To view...

Worker Empowerment & Trade Justice in the Dominican Republic January 2nd – 10th Worker Empowerment & Trade Justice in the Dominican RepublicJanuary 2nd – 10thJoin the Fair World Project (FWP) to explore the emerging world of workers’ rights, union-made living-wage apparel and trade justice in the...

Simon Clark Fairtrade International brings together retailers and other marketers in wealthy countries with small-scale producers of foods in the developing world. The organization’s goal is to ensure the ethical treatment of workers. Retailers in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere can then sell these products as...

KamCity Fair Trade USA has begun conducting a full review of its controversial new labelling policy, the announcement of which had earlier led to warnings that it may lose its status as a fair trade certifier. The new policy, scheduled to go live on 1 January 2012, would have seen the body certify products as ‘Fair...

As an independent and integral voice in the Fair Trade movement, United Students for Fair Trade has held many meetings to conclude on where we stand on Transfair/Fair Trade USA’s recent decision to leave FLO. We are deeply concerned by FT USA’s move to leave FLO and many other decisions made preceding it. We have...

Robin Shreeves At the height of S’mores season, protesters are leaving cards with QR codes near Hershey’s chocolate products in stores to alert shoppers of the problems with the company’s cocoa sourcing problems photo: Sancho McCann/Flickr It seems that one of the...

The recent decision by Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) to withdraw from the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO), and to extend the scope of Fair Trade to include plantations and factories, has long-term and far-reaching consequences for the Fair Trade movement. The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), as...

Paul Rice is a man on a mission. The 51-year-old president and CEO of Fair Trade USA, who has led the group since 1998, says he wants the practice of Fair Trade to become bigger, engaging more consumers and helping more farmers around the world. To that end, Fair Trade USA last year quit the international Fairtrade Labelling...

Fair trade is a social movement and market model that aims to empower small-scale farmers and consumers in underdeveloped countries to create an alternative trading system that supports equitable trading, sustainable development and long-term trading relationships. Fair trade supports fair prices and wages for producers, safe working...

For 20 years, hundreds of producer organizations worldwide have been involved in the creation anddevelopment of the international Fairtrade Labelling movement and its central body FairtradeInternational (FLO). Since last year, the three Fairtrade Producer Networks (NAP1, CLAC2 and Fairtrade Africa) whichrepresent more than 800 producer organizations in 60 countries, and...

The Latin American and Caribbean Network of Small Fair Trade Producers (CLAC) is a founding member and co-owner of Fairtrade International, and is strongly committed to the future of Fair Trade for disadvantaged producers. The CLAC represents democratically organized small farmers, and addresses the strengthening and development of...

Fairtrade International (FLO) and Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) share a belief in the importance of empowering producers and workers around the world to improve their lives through better terms of trade. However, as we look to the future, we recognize that we have different perspectives on how best to achieve this common mission.As a consequence, Fair...

"Mahmoud Issa had given up on olive farming as a means of livelihood and was risking it all to illegally cross the Palestine border into Israel to work at a factory in the city, leaving behind his family for months at a time to lessen the chance of being caught. During the occupation, Palestinian farmers like Issa have been isolated...

Reporting from Washington — Soaring coffee prices mean good times for peasant growers, but because financial speculation in part is fueling the prices, the high prices eventually could threaten suppliers of organic and other "socially conscious" coffees. U.S. retail coffee prices have risen more than 20% over the past 12 months and more than...

Growing up on small farms in Kenya, Sylvester Maina and Arnold Ngari witnessed first-hand how lack of access to markets affected their families and communities. In 2009, they helped found Tropical Fresh, a company that purchases vegetables under fair trade terms from small-scale Kenyan farmers and exports them to European...

Sales of fair trade products in the United States have been booming. According to the Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), they amounted to $1.2 billion last year – quadruple the figure in 2004. This is a truly staggering rate of growth. Fair trade practices grew out of the concerns of a small number of...

In This Issue FWP Launches Be Fair Campaign New Small Producer Fair Trade Seal Adventures in Fair Trade Alcohol FWP Tour: Tast of Palestine Fair World News...

August 17, 2011 MIAMI (CBS4) — Fair trade products are catching on in popularity as more and more consumers put their money where their conscience is. But as the dollars flow, so does the controversy over companies who are pretending to be fair trade when they’re not. Sarah Griffis loves the idea of buying products...

Bangkok Post Shrimp farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan province hope that their hard work over the past four years will help them win credentials from the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International some time next year. Mr Decha uses gutweed, which absorbs waste and helps improve water quality to prevent disease and promote shrimp growth. The Fairtrade label,...

On November 29 and 30 fair trade products made by artisans from around the world will be sold in MacHall. "Due to the success we had last year, we will be coming back for two days instead of just one," said Ten Thousand Villages co-manager Jason Fehr. Ten Thousand Villages works with poor and disadvantaged artisans who...

Russell Working It must have sounded like a sweet idea for a summer Facebook campaign from a chocolate maker with 2.3 million fans. But the Hershey Company was left with a bitter taste in its mouth when social activists elbowed in on a s'mores-themed photo contest, asking the Pennsylvania firm not to use cocoa allegedly harvested...

On The Ground, in partnership with the Palestinian Fair Trade Association, is thrilled to announce a new, philanthropic event, The Run Across Palestine, (RAP) for early 2012. The event will raise funds and awareness for the fair trade olive farmers of Palestine. Funds raised from RAP will have several immediate impacts including purchasing and planting thousands of ...

Michael Zelmer/Fair Trade Canada Published by mzelmer on August 03, 2011 By Michael Zelmer An Op-Ed in the B.C. Catholic recently proclaimed that “’Fair Trade fails to live up to its message”, and presented a German study of Nicaraguan coffee farmers as proof. Much has...

Danilo Valladares GUATEMALA CITY, Jul 14 (IPS) - "We started out with 10 organisations and now we have 22 cooperatives with more than 19,000 members who grow and export crops with an environmental, social and economic focus," says an enthusiastic Marvin Lpez, with the Guatemalan network of small-scale fair trade farmers...

Laura Carlsen Congress could vote any day now to strike a new blow against already-battered U.S. workers and the unemployed. Committees in the House and Senate recently marked up the Colombia, Panama, and South Korea Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The Obama administration is urging passage of all three relics of the Bush...

Robin Shreeves At the height of S’mores season, protesters are leaving cards with QR codes near Hershey’s chocolate products in stores to alert shoppers of the problems with the company’s cocoa sourcing problems photo: Sancho McCann/Flickr It seems that one of the...

Michael J. Coren Investing in sectors that most business people find too risky, this firm is finding that the returns from helping small businesses in the developing world can be more than simply charity. Small money, big change. That, in essence, is what William Foote was banking on when he ditched Harvard Business School to start...

Agricultural Justice Project agjusticeproject@gmail.com P.O. Box 640 Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-1396 ext. 211 Press Release: For Immediate Release July 2011 The Agricultural Justice Project proudly announces the awarding of certificates to representatives of four organic certification agencies and five farm worker organizations...

Jack Neff/AdAge Up to now, personal-care brands have been calling themselves "fair trade" when as little as 2% of their ingredients are sourced that way. The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus doesn't think that's fair.The industry self-regulatory body recommended TransFair USA, which licenses...

Lorna Thorpe for the Guardian Professional Network Over the past five years Cafdirect has ploughed more than half its profits back into the businesses of its grower partners, blazing a trail for reinvestment in the communities it trades with and giving its growers a say in how the business is run. Cafdirect has always been a pioneer...

Anna Gunderson Fair Trade Cafe hosted a food-tasting event last week previewing a vegetarian lunch option available for ASU students next fall. “Our goal was to create an affordable, tasty and healthy lunch option for students,” community cook Ingrid Hirtz said. “We also wanted to raise awareness about food...

From speculators toying with commodity prices on international markets, to the startling amount of food wasted in developed countries, to reduced harvests due to climate change, all recent headlines point to food security. The New York Times published, “A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Itself,” an in-depth...

The percentage of new foods and drinks launched with an ‘ethical positioning’ has almost doubled since 2008, despite the premium price tag often attached to these products, according to Innova Market Insights.New products with an ethical positioning grew from 3.7 percent of new launches in the US in 2008 to 6 percent of...

By Franz Wild - Jun 7, 2011Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT)’s South African unit will pay extra for cocoa beans sourced directly from West African farmers to make its Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bar, securing it Fairtrade certification, the company said.Thousands of farmers in the world’s top producing region for the chocolate...

The “Raise the Bar, Hershey!” Campaign is planning a rally in front of the Hershey Store in Times Square. The purpose of this rally is to encourage Hershey to go Fair Trade. The rally is scheduled to take place on Wednesday June 8th at 10:30 am. When: June 8 2011, 10:30am – 12:30pm Where: In front of the...

The chief executive of Divine Chocolate, a company with a unique ownership structure, and the president of its largest shareholder group explain how the for-profit business operates Despite spending nearly a decade using commerce to remedy social injustice, Mark Magers never imagined he would one day work for 45,000 Ghanaian cocoa...

Demand for organic Fair Trade certified food imports increased significantly in 2010, with especially strong growth for vanilla, coffee, citrus and cocoa, according to Fair Trade USA’s 2010 almanac. Fair Trade USA issues an annual almanac detailing the state of the Fair Trade market in the United States. The latest...

Many consumers will opt for "Fair Trade" coffee over the alternatives—even if the price rises significantly, a study finds. The "fair trade" movement seeks to improve conditions for farmers and other producers in developing countries. The study took place in 26 stores of an unnamed upscale chain. In...

Simon Pitmanr Treatt subsidiary Earthoil has launched a fairtrade camphorous tea tree oil that taps into the growing demand for sustainable and responsibly-sourced ingredients.The oil has been sourced from the Kenya Organic Oil Farmers Association (KOOFA), ensuring that the ingredient is from both a sustainable source as well as being supplied...

Amanda Kloer The North American food industry has “barely scratched the surface” when it comes to the growth potential of Fair Trade certification for food ingredients, with double-digit growth in groceries likely to continue for some time to come, according to Fair Trade USA.The leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade...

A new agreement between Fairtrade International and a fair trade organization in Brazil promises to bring Fairtrade certified products to Brazilian store shelves and boost farmers’ Fairtrade sales.The concept of fair trade is widely supported in Brazil by both civil society organizations and the government. But Fairtrade certified...

CNN's Richard Quest talks to filmmaker U. Roberto Romano, whose documentary "The Dark Side of Chocolate" investigates child labor and cocoa fields in the Ivory Coast. Read a statement from the Global Chocolate and Cocoa Industry| From the International Cocoa Initiative But before you bite into a chocolate bar or take a sip of...

A research team from Tulane University that has been closely examining chocolate company efforts to eliminate child labor and forced labor in the cocoa industry has released a new report that calls on companies to increase the use of certified cocoa, like Fair Trade certification. As one of the only major chocolate companies that has not...

Carmen K. Iezzi, Special to CNN Editor's Note: Since 2006, Carmen K. Iezzi has served as executive director of the Fair Trade Federation, a trade association based in Washington, D.C., that supports North American organizations committed to fair trade.At what expense do we maximize profits?At the cost of children's lives?At the cost of the...

Amanda Kloer Demonstrating their strong commitment to labor rights, FTD has offered a line of Fair Trade certified floral arrangements, just in time for Mother's Day, Easter, and graduation season. The site now offers five different Fair Trade certified bouquets, which is one of the three flower sourcing improvements almost 10,000 Change.org...

New Premium, Minimum Price and Trade Standards in Coffee www.fairtrade.net 15 March 2011In the past year international prices for coffee have hit a 14-year high, sending waves throughout the coffee world from farmers to consumers. Fairtrade International (FLO) today announces a new Fairtrade Minimum Price and Premium, a higher organic differential...

Join us in getting 100,000 people in N. America to take a Fair Trade Coffee Break! Events: May 1-15, 2011 World Fair Trade Day is the largest Fair Trade event of the year in N. America. Businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches, student groups, civic associations, families, stores and advocates host hundreds of events –...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dana Geffner Ph: 503-803-1432 September 10, 2010 dana@fairworldproject.org Ryan Zinn Ph: 907-947-6046 ryan@fairworldproject.org Fair World Project: New Voice for Fair Trade Movement in Organic Sector and Beyond New Publication Looks Critically at Fair Trade Standards...

August 23, 2010 - Yet another chapter in the historic alliance between students and farmworkers has been written today, as Sodexo becomes the fourth leading food service provider (following Bon Appetit Management Co., Compass Group, and Aramark) and ninth corporation overall to heed the demands of the Campaign for Fair Food and...

As of Fall 2010, a war is set to begin on Emory’scampus, one between the David and the Goliath of the coffee industry.Caf Campesino, a Georgia-based, organic, shade-grown and Fair Trade Federation coffee roaster and retailer, will take on Starbucks in the new bookstore, which was constructed merely 100 yards away from another...

In the past few years, consumer-goods companies have learned that improving their sustainable credentials is not just a matter of peering inside their own operations. They must also examine the environmental and social footprint of every player in their supply chain. The search for sustainable ingredients can take a company anywhere from...

Sixteen Food Emporium stores in Manhattan are featuring Fair Trade-certified South African citrus the week of Aug. 15. According to a news release, the promotion features citrus grown throughan 11-year-old economic development program called Harvest of Hope, an ownership and development program for workers on citrus farms...

Jeff Geipel shops for groceries with an eagle eye. The Vancouver waiter is looking for labels showing that the items he buys are made with good labour practices, environmental sustainability, democratic practices and fair prices paid to farmers and producers.For Mr. Geipel, the executive director of Fair Trade Vancouver, a volunteer group that...

For years the Fair Trade movement, and consumers, have grappled with issues around labels, certification systems, and credibility. This summer such debate is heating up, especially in Europe, where most international certification organizations are based. The following recent developments evidence mounting attention, concern and ...

"Mass movements can rise and spread without a belief in God," the social critic Eric Hoffer once wrote, "but never without belief in a devil."Few groups better embody this adage than "the Food Movement"- the amorphous but impassioned effort to bring responsibly produced food from farm to fork. The Movement, which has...

The University of California, San Diego has signed one of the strongest fair trade policies of any university in the nation. The policy makes a commitment to promote fair trade certified products, support sustainable business practices and humane working conditions that prohibit the use of child labor. ...

fairworldprj: RT @Public_Citizen: #WTO attacks U.S. #dolphin-safe labeling law. Here's our reaction http://t.co/4DqUZfaB

fairworldprj: Great @foodfirstorg article: Food Justice Label: A promising model for domestic #fairtrade: http://t.co/75jPpLR6

fairworldprj: The Cost to Mexico of U.S. Corn Ethanol Expansion: http://t.co/hyYuUQ88 #NAFTA #unfairtrade

fairworldprj: NYTimes covers greenwashing in paper & wood products: http://t.co/tWbt9mRR #greenwash

fairworldprj: Obama Administration Argues for Secrecy in Trade Negotiations: http://t.co/fowWweXw #unfairtrade #secrecy #TPP

fairworldprj: Check out Fair World Project's May Newsletter: http://t.co/8nkJk1h5 #fairtrade

fairworldprj: RT @foodchainworker: Undocumented Immigrants Paid $11.2 Billion In Taxes While GE Paid Nothing http://t.co/VbVEiWyq via @thinkprogress

fairworldprj: Implementation of Colombia Trade Deal a New Low for Workers and the Environment: http://t.co/sJ0IjXwy #unfairtrade

fairworldprj: Not too late to enter to win an amazing 17-day trip to Sri Lanka created by World Fair Trade Day sponsors http://t.co/SvsetpbB

fairworldprj: Over 100 Children a Year Die Working On Farms: http://t.co/PuuXOVD9

fairworldprj: It’s World Fair Trade Day! Celebrate moms across the globe with a #fairtrade gift http://t.co/nBQSrh81

fairworldprj: World Fair Trade Day celebration today with @AlaffiaSkinCare @AlterEcoPacific @DrBronner @Guayaki @MaggiesOrganic @EqExCoop

fairworldprj: Get big or get out: Tackling "fair" in fisheries: http://t.co/Ce8ExKvh #fairtrade?

fairworldprj: World Bank invests $55m in cocoa trader. What could possibly go wrong? http://t.co/cLFy6Khh #notfairtrade

fairworldprj: Today is World Fair Trade Day! Celebrate Fair Trade for a Better World http://t.co/nBQSrh81

fairworldprj: RT @RodneyEqEx: This wk I'm on @SeaChangeRadio http://t.co/Q6tG7gdw Its a 30 minute discussion of the controversy in #fairtrade. #coops ...

fairworldprj: RT @WFTO: European Parliament President Martin Schulz issued a statement on World Fair Trade Day celebration. #FairTrade... http://t.co/ ...

fairworldprj: RT @EthixMerch: Exciting "Solidarity Immersion Experience" summer trip with @fairworldprj and @wearaltagracia - Register Today! http://t ...

fairworldprj: RT @wearaltagracia: MT @EthixMerch: Register today! "Solidarity Immersion Experience" summer trip w/ @fairworldprj & @wearaltagracia ...

fairworldprj: Sen. Al Franken Urges Transparency on the Trans-Pacific Partnership: http://t.co/Hj7Ieq9K #fairtrade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ariel Vegosen 516-732-0579 ariel@mintwood.com February 24, 2012 Adam Eidinger 202-744-2671 adam@mintwood.com Dedicated Fair Trade Brands Announce Major Consumer Campaign for World Fair Trade Day - May 12, 2012 More than 500 Retailer Events Planned National Contest Offers a Fair Trade Adventure to Sri Lanka PORTLAND,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ariel Vegosen 516-732-0579 ariel@mintwood.com December 15, 2011 Adam Eidinger 202-744-2671 adam@mintwood.com Dedicated Fair Trade Brands Announce Major Consumer Campaign for World Fair Trade Day - May 12, 2012 More than 500 Retailer Events Planned National Contest Offers a Fair Trade Adventure to Sri Lanka PORTLAND,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ryan Zinn, Ph: 907-947-6046 October 19, 2011 Email: ryan@fairworldproject.org Fair Trade USA Goes Rogue: New “Standards” Undermine Fair Trade Commitment to Farmers and Consumers Fair Trade Advocates Reject Certifier Scheme to Allow “Fair Trade” Chocolate Bars to Contain No Actual Fair Trade Cocoa, Among Other...