Mission: Fair trade usa enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry, and the earth. We achieve our mission by certifying and promoting fair trade products.
Programs: To earn the license from fair trade usa to use the fair trade certified label on their products, businesses must buy from fair trade certified farms, agree to pay fair trade prices and community development premiums, and submit to a rigorous supply chain audit. Fair trade usa'smore than 900 business partners range from small, mission-driven coffee roasters, produce farmers, factory workers, to some of the largest international brands and retailers. In 2016, fair trade usa's business partners once again drove record imports to satisfy the continued growth in consumer demand for more than 12,000 fair trade certified products now available in virtually.
today fair trade has grown into a leading market-base model of sustanable production, trade and consuption and is approching an inflection point. In 2016, the sale of fair trade certified products in the u. S. Reached an estimated $6 billion. More than 1200 leading brands and retailers sell fair trade products. Consumer awareness of our seal rose to 67%. Most important, we have generated cumulative impact of $441 million in additional income for farmers and workers in more than 70 countries. That means that every dollar we've spend building the fair trade market, has generated $4 in impact for the hardworking families whom we serve, this social return on investment is truly unprecedented. The success of core products like coffe has attracted visionaries on other industries. Together, we are innovating the fair trade model to expand impact to new communmities.
u. S. Farms; in 2016, we certified the first farm in the united states. The milestone builds on our successful produce partnerships with leading retailers like whole foods and costco in latin america, which have improved the livelihoods and working conditions of thousands of migrnat farmworker families. Fisheries; our fisheri initiative, launched in partnerships with albertsons companies, is growing fast. We now certify tuna, shrimp and scallop fishermen in four countries, ensuring better labor practices and environmental stewardship. Apparel & home goods; the fair trade apparel and home goods program grew 66% in 2016, thanks to the support of visionary brands like patagonia, west elm, prana and atleta. These pioneering companies are leveraging fair trade to empower and engage factory workers in asia and latin america. In 2016 farmers and workers around the world earned $44 million in community development funds to invest in a variety of projects from schools and medical clinics to child care and subsidized grocery stores.
Living and working in Latin America as medical missioners for 20 years, we have witnessed the tremendous improvement that Fair Trade makes in the lives of individuals and whole communities. Food on the table, children in school, democratically organized cooperatives, and environmentally friendly farming are the norm where Fair Trade has taken root. The Fair Trade movement allows millions to lift themselves out of poverty while providing quality products to consumers worldwide. The movement goes beyond charity to promote sustainable development at the grass roots level. It’s free trade at its best and makes globalization work for all.
As Fair Trade advocates at the local level here in the US, we have seen how TransFair/Fair Trade USA has been instrumental in helping Fair Trade grow amongst consumers and retailers. The organization oversees a rigorous certification process for products and provides an eye catching label to alert the consumer. It provides a wealth of well designed educational materials, marketing materials and videos that effectively put forth the case for Fair Trade to consumers and retailers alike. Short videos such as “Santiago’s Story” and “Fair Trade: The Story” have been extremely useful in our advocacy work. And the Fair Trade Towns and Fair Trade Universities initiatives are providing us with platforms to move the message of Fair Trade to wider and wider audiences. We’re grateful for the outstanding work that TransFair/Fair Trade USA does to raise awareness of Fair Trade and increase access to Fair Trade products.
I've worked for non-profits on social justice and development issues for many years, including educational work on Central America and development work in Africa. The most rewarding part of the work was developing meaningful partnerships with the people who were the focus of my efforts. When I discovered Fair Trade, I found I could do that essentially every day in the simple act of purchasing or consuming Fair Trade products. I've made a commitment to buy only Fair Trade certified chocolate, and I give Fair Trade as gifts to family and friends. About a year ago I met two cocoa farmers and heard the amazing story of how Fair Trade has changed their lives and their communities. So, now I have a sense of being part of their story and they of mine. It's a really cool thing, and I'm very grateful for the work that Fair Trade USA does that enables this kind of connection. I hope to be able to visit a cocoa farm in the foreseeable future to walk a while in the farmers' space, and I know it's going to be an amazing experience.
Being donors and advocates of Fair Trade USA fits perfectly into our world view. Through travel to a variety of countries in the global South, we have gained an understanding of the devastating effects of the status-quo global trade model. We feel passionate about supporting Fair Trade USA because we see Fair Trade as an effective alternative. Instead of just giving temporary aid and creating a dependency relationship, the Fair Trade model empowers people and gives them the dignity of providing for their own livelihood.
