For those confused by all the fair trade labels — Here’s an explanation of what the labels in the US are, and what they mean.
And for an explanation of shade grown labels, go here.
Product certification labels
FairTrade Labelling Organization. FLO is the international org that certifies fair trade co-ops. It serves as an umbrealla org for the various national orgs — such as TransFair USA for the US, or FTAANZ for Australia — that provide fair trade product certifications.
TransFair USA. Within the US, TFUSA’s the nonprofit that provides the fair trade certification sticker (right) for products.
Labels that mark fair trade companies
Fair Trade Federation (FTF). An association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers that practice fair trade. To become a member, businesses have to meet a set of strict criteria. This is an association, not a certification label — though if you see the logo, that means the company’s a fair trade company.
International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT). The IFAT label identifies fair trade organizations. IFAT’s a global network of fair trade organizations — The label identifies member organizations, not specific products.
Always appreciate these clarifications — especially as more companies create logos to designate their own supposedly “fairly traded” practices.
Amusingly, for all the grief given SBX, I recently had occasion to stop at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf . . . 0% FT . . . and when I left a comment card, the response was “we have our own program, its better, we play fair with our farmers” yada yada yada . . . It may be that some regulation (perhaps just as to transparency) is needed before one can make “fairly traded” or similar claims . . . I know the Green candidates for Congress in the 29th Dist. and likely the 28th would support a transparency reg. for such claims — perhaps you could check with the incumbents?
Oh, and the coffee was not yummy at CBTF.
Comment by Roger, Gone Green — April 30, 2006 @ 3:10 am
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was actually the first company I “bugged” about fair trade — I talked to Jay there. Not only do they not have any fair trade coffee, they also only offer one organic blend — which tastes quite gross.
Comment by Siel — May 6, 2006 @ 12:07 pm