The 3 major producer networks (representing 800 producers groups comprised of around 1 million producers in 60 countries) in Fair Trade certification, issued statements this week strongly opposing Fair Trade USA’s decision to withdraw from Fairtrade International (FLO), and to FTUSA doing so without consulting the 3 networks, all co-owners of FLO. (more…)
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FLO & FTUSA Further Clarify What Their Split Means for Stakeholders September 19, 2011 -
Fairtrade International (FLO), and Fair Trade USA (FTUSA), have announced some details of what their split means for producers, businesses, advocates and other stakeholders in the months ahead. As FTUSA’s withdrawal from the FLO system takes effect December 31, 2011, stakeholders will see many changes. (more…) FTUSA to Leave FLO System September 15, 2011 -
Fairtrade International (FLO) and Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) jointly announced today that FTUSA is resigning its membership in FLO, effective December 31, 2011. The joint statement said “…as we look to the future, we recognize that we have different perspectives on how best to achieve this common mission.” The dominant certifier in the US market, administering the “Fair Trade Certified” mark, has been a key member of FLO since FTUSA was founded as Transfair USA in 1998. FLO will have around 25 other country’s labeling initiatives stay as members, including Fairtrade Canada. (more…) FTUSA Opens Certification to Coffee Workers While FLO Will Not September 12, 2011 -
Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) recently announced that it will permit certification of coffee & other products produced by unorganized farmers and farm workers, and not just reserve certification for organized cooperatives. Similar changes were made in recent years for producers of tea, bananas and flowers, allowing large plantations with hired labor to participate in Fair Trade. Once changes are made to coffee certification, other product certifications like cocoa and sugar should have similar changes. Interestingly, the global certifier Fairtrade International (FLO), within which FTUSA is the exclusive US labeling initiative, announced it is not changing its coffee certification as FTUSA is. FLO prefers to continue its focus to benefit small-scale coffee farmers. The changes for FTUSA are part of its newly launched strategy, Fair Trade for All, which aims to double U.S. sales of Fair Trade Certified goods by 2015. More on FTUSA’s Fair Trade for All strategy. More on FLO’s announcement that the major changes to coffee certification undertaken by FTUSA are not being made by FLO, in FLO’s response. Small Producers Authorize First Certifier to Use New Symbol/Label August 24, 2011 -
Some Insights Into Assessing the Impacts of Fair Trade for Producers August 17, 2011 -
On August 4, FTRN produced Webinar 115: Assessing the Impacts of Fair Trade for Producers. The two panelists were Sarah Lyon, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kentucky, and Daniele Giovannucci, Executive Director of Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA). You can download the 50-min recording, or register for upcoming webinars, at FTRN webinars.
Chicago Becomes Largest US Fair Trade Town May 9, 2011 -
100,000 Expected to Participate in WFTD Events Across N. America May 4, 2011 -
Hundreds of Sessions to Educate the Public on the Benefits of Fair Trade and Provide Samples of Products from Around the Globe
For information about World Fair Trade Day events in your area or to find out more information about the benefits of buying Fair Trade, go to http://www.fairtraderesource.org/wftd/. Fair Trade Advocates & Producers View FLO Certification As Good, But Not Enough, At Specialty Coffee Conference May 2, 2011 -
Fair Trade Certified U.S. Market Shows Some Changes in 2010 – Data Published in Fair Trade USA’s Annual Almanac April 26, 2011 -
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Some of the speakers’ main points from the webinar include comments below. 
Chicago this month became the largest Fair Trade Town in the United States and the second largest in the world. Chicago has officially met all of the criteria to be declared a Fair Trade Town and joins the ranks of nearly 1,000 Fair Trade Towns throughout the world, including London, Rome, Barcelona and Boston.
Among the roughly 8000 attendees at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) 
Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) published its annual guide to statistics for the 2010 U.S. market of Fair Trade Certified (FTC) products. Since FTUSA is the recognition system for about 90% of all Fair Trade goods sold in the U.S., its statistics tell important parts of the larger Fair Trade story.