23Apr
What does Fair Trade Certified mean?
‘Do you have any Fair Trade coffees?’ It is a question we get asked frequently. Currently, we offer one variety, Mountain Harvest, that is Fair Trade Certified, with plans to include additional varieties as we expand our product line. But exactly what does the Fair Trade Certified label mean?
Fair Trade USA
The fair trade certification held by the Mountain Harvest Blend is granted by Fair Trade USA. Fair Trade USA, the leading third-party certifier of fair trade products in North America, is an independent, non-profit organization. Fair Trade USA sets the standards a product must meet in order to be labeled and marketed as Fair Trade Certified. Their published certification standards include fair prices and credit, fair labor conditions, direct trade, democratic and transparent organizations, community development and environmental sustainability.
Fair Trade USA also audits products to ensure compliance with the standards. Compliance with those standards allows an organization to label and market their product as Fair Trade Certified. Consumers purchasing products that bear the Fair Trade Certified label are assured that those products meet the rigorous standards of Fair Trade USA. Currently, over 800 companies in the US work with Fair Trade USA to confirm their products comply with the rigorous standards.
Consumers can also rest assured that purchasing products bearing the Fair Trade USA label will help Fair Trade USA to further their mission, which is as follows –
‘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.’ (from www.fairtradeusa.org, April, 2015).
Rally Beans is proud to offer a blend that meets Fair Trade USA’s strict standards, and we look forward to offering even more Fair Trade Certified coffees as we expand our product offerings.