Fair Trade USA

Fair Trade USA

Type	Non-profit organization
Industry	Product certification
Founded	1998
Headquarters	Oakland, California, United States
Key people	Paul Rice, President and CEO Ron D. Cordes, Chairman of the Board
Number of employees	~50 (2011)
Website	www.fairtradeusa.org

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.

Founded in 1998 by the Institute for Agricultural Trade Policy (IATP), Fair Trade USA is an independent, nonprofit organization that sets standards, certifies, and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment. Its mission is to "enable sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers, workers, consumers, industry and the earth".

The fair trade model requires rigorous protection of local ecosystems and ensures farmers work in safe conditions and receive a harvest price. In addition, annual inspections conducted by independent auditors like FLO-CERT and SCS Global Services ensure that strict socioeconomic development criteria are being met, in addition to sustainable farm management, environmental stewardship and democratic decision-making. The fair trade model seeks to empower farmers and workers around the world, keeping families, local economies, the natural environment, and the larger community strong today and for generations to come.

Fair Trade USA currently partners with over 800 brands, as well as 1.3 million farmers and workers in over 70 countries worldwide. Fair trade Certified products encompass many different commodities including coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, spices, honey, produce, grains, wine & spirits, flowers, apparel & home goods, and body care. These commodities differ in location and types of labor used.

Since 1998, Fair Trade USA has certified over 1 billion pounds of fair trade coffee. This has helped coffee farmers in developing countries earn over $124 million in Community Development Premiums to date, with $30.8 million in 2013 alone. These additional premiums are reinvested in family and community development, education, and environmental and productivity projects.

Although coffee remains the most popular fair trade product, Fair Trade USA certifies a variety of product categories, including tea, cocoa, sugar, spices, honey, produce, grains, wine & spirits, flowers, apparel & home goods, and body care. There are now more than 12,000 individual Fair Trade Certified products available in North America, and the market is growing rapidly.