About – Fairtrade America

Fair trade brings people together

Many of the products we enjoy every day – coffee, chocolate, bananas – have traveled thousands of miles over oceans and countless hands to land in stores in the United States. Fair trade brings together all of the people – the farmers, traders, brands, retailers and shoppers – to create a more equitable world through trade.

Nearly 2 million farmers and workers worldwide are Fairtrade certified

50% of the voting members at our General Assembly are Fairtrade farmers and workers.

2,400+ brands offer more than 30,000 Fairtrade certified products globally

Read Stories from Fairtrade Brands and Farmers

Banana farmer in Ghana holds young Fairtrade certified banana plant.

Yellow Fairtrade certified bananas sit in a beautiful produce display.

Fair trade fights inequality

We are the US branch of the largest and most recognized fair trade system in the world – Fairtrade International. We work to create a world where all farmers and workers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods so that they can thrive and have the freedom to decide on their own futures.

We do this by supporting and challenging US businesses to prioritize the people and places that are behind the products we use every day. By improving the terms of trade – a notorious driver of inequality – we put money back in the hands of farmers and workers, which they choose how to spend.

Read our Mission, Vision and Values

Supporting businesses on their path to sustainability

Fair and equitable trade is a powerful way to level the playing field. That’s why we work with businesses of all sizes to source products from Fairtrade certified producers that follow our rigorous environmental, social and economic standards.

Ben & Jerry's

Fairtrade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie. The whole concept of Fairtrade goes to the heart of our values and the sense of right and wrong. Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.

Read Ben & Jerry's Fairtrade story

Endangered Species Chocolate

"Endangered Species Chocolate is committed to crafting delicious premium chocolate while supporting species, habitat, and humanity." - Curt Vander Meer, CEO of Endangered Species Chocolate

Nespresso

Nespresso has been committed to sustainable sourcing for 30+ years. But the last five years have set Nespresso’s Fairtrade farmers on a path of long-term wellbeing even after their farming days are over.

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Fairtrade America recognizes that being inclusive is about action. Therefore, we are not only advocating for justice, equality and non-discrimination for farmers and workers in low- and middle-income countries, but also within our own organization and with commercial partners, governments and the communities where Fairtrade products are produced and purchased.

Read our DEI statement.

More About Us

Staff

Board of Directors

Woman holding Fairtrade certified coffee beans grown in Indonesia

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that isn’t answered – let us know by emailing us at questions@fairtradeamerica.org.

The Fairtrade Mark is the most recognized ethical label globally. When you see this symbol on a product, you know can rest assured that it has been certified under our rigorous environmental, social and economic standards with the goal of getting farmers and workers a better deal. The Mark does not endorse a company’s entire business, but rather that ingredients in a particular product have met our standards.

Learn the story behind the mark.

Fairtrade was specifically created to support farmers in the Global South, using trade as a way to encourage and increase sustainable development. The countries we work in have historically trailed behind the US in terms of infrastructure, support systems and safety nets necessary to get producers a sustainable price for their goods.

Fairtrade’s expertise is in developing standards that enable farmers and workers to work their way out of poverty through fairer trade. These standards are inextricably interwoven with the commodities that we certify – things like bananas, coffee and cocoa – that are not typically produced in the US.

We recognize that some American farmers and workers also face inequality. We continue to monitor this, but for now, have decided to remain true to our original focus of supporting the most disadvantaged farmers and workers.

About Us