Fair Trade Around the Nation

Trouble in Paradise

As I continuously research Fair Trade issues to gain a deeper understanding of the movement, I learn more about the bureaucracy behind the scenes. 

For instance, there has been some controversy over the Fair Trade USA organization and their labeling and certification standards for products and businesses. Equal Exchange, along with the other Fair Trade organizations, put out a letter detailing the struggle in the Fair Trade system. A small excerpt from the letter shows how Fair Trade USA is undermining the principles of Fair Trade:

Fair Trade USA (formerly known as TransFair USA) has slowly but steadily chipped away at our principles and values, only recently taking the final steps in building their strategy. They have taken the name Fair Trade USA, then proceeded to leave the international Fair Trade System (FLO International/FairTrade International), lower standards, eliminate farmers from their governance model, and invite large-scale plantations into coffee and all other commodities.

This is not Fair Trade and we are asking you to join with us in differentiating TransFair's model from the authentic small farmer Fair Trade that we are collectively building. (Equal Exchange, Background Summary)

In response to TransFair USA's plan, the United Students for Fair Trade issued a boycott and called on the public to support USFT's standards. USFT underlines five different issues regarding the changes in TransFair USA's standards.

Equal Exchange has initiated the Small Farmer Campaign with the support of other partners and organizations. They ask:

Buy only Fair Trade products that come directly from small farmer organizations. Enter into dialogue with the stores where you shop that sell Fair Trade products with the TransFair seal on their products to explain to them that authentic Fair Trade means support for small farmers, not plantations and corporations.

I have educated myself on the differences between the Fair Trade organizations, have read the evidence and reviews from both sides, and have come to the conclusion that I will not support TransFair/Fair Trade USA products. I hope that when it comes to something that you are invested in, not just Fair Trade or activism, you will look at both sides and make a conscious decision for yourself.


Articles, links and more:
"The Fair Trade Controversy You Didn't Know About" - http://www.good.is/posts/the-fair-trade-controversy-you-didn-t-know-about

NY Times "A Question of Fairness" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/business/as-fair-trade-movement-grows-a-dispute-over-its-direction.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Equal Exchange "Background Summary - January 2012" - http://www.equalexchange.coop/sites/default/files/import/pdfs/downloads/FTBackgroundSummary.pdf

"Co-operatives: The Heart and Soul of the Fair Trade Movement" - http://www.equalexchange.coop/sites/default/files/FWPCo-opHeartSoulofFT.pdf

"First Coffee, Now Fashion" - http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/printthis/229444.html

University of North Carolina - FLO (Fair, Local, Organic) Food http://flofood.weebly.com/

Membership Organization list:
http://fairworldproject.org/overview/certifiers-membership-orgs/

Committed Fair Trade brands:
http://fairworldproject.org/get-involved/committed-fair-trade-brands/

Fair World Project Fair Trade Friends:
http://fairworldproject.org/get-involved/fair-trade-friends/

Members of the Domestic Fair Trade Association:
http://www.thedfta.org/who-we-are/current-members-2-0/