New Report from Fair World Project Evaluates Certification Programs that Seek to Ensure Transparency and Integrity of Working Conditions for Farmworkers
Leading Advocacy Group Evaluates Impact and Effectiveness of Seven Certification Programs in the Interest of Farmworker Justice

Portland, OR – Fair World Project, a project of the Organic Consumers Association, the nation’s largest network of green and ethical consumers, has released a new report titled, Justice in the Fields: A report on the Role of Farmworker Justice Certification and an Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Seven Labels. The new report evaluates seven certification programs that consumer brands use to provide a level of transparency to consumers on the social impact of their supply chain on workers. The findings in the report are based on the criteria farms must meet, how these standards are enforced and what role farmworkers and their representatives play in both program development and on-farm enforcement.

To read the Justice in the Fields report, go to: https://fairworldproject.org/campaigns/farmworker-justice/

The report details the realities of agricultural work globally: it’s difficult, dangerous, and can be poorly compensated. Farmworkers are often excluded from laws that protect other workers and even when they are included, the laws are often not well enforced. Labor unions can provide the function of negotiating better pay and conditions on behalf of workers they represent, but in reality union membership on farms is low, in part because of anti-union organizing. The report illuminates how, in recent years, certification programs have stepped in to fill the void and ensure justice and fair treatment for farmworkers on farms.

“It is tempting to see certification as a silver bullet, but any certification is only as good as its standards and enforcement mechanisms. Ultimately, any good program empowers farmworkers and works together with existing regulations and unions to strengthen their voice.”
Kerstin Lindgren, Campaign Director of Fair World Project

Of the seven certification labels evaluated in the report, Fair World Project strongly recommends two of them: Agricultural Justice Project’s Food Justice Certified and Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program. Two others are recommended with qualifications: Equitable Food Initiative’s Responsible Grown, Farmworker Assured, and Fairtrade International’s Fairtrade Certified.

“At their best, certification labels can raise the bar for worker justice on farms and lead consumers to purchase products that empower farmworkers. But conscious consumerism is just a small part of what’s needed—we hope that this report can inform and inspire people to engage in activism on behalf of all the people who grow our food, whether they work on a certified farm or not.”
Dana Geffner, Executive Director of Fair World Project

Download this press- release: [Download pdf]

###

The post New Report Evaluates Certification Programs that Seek to Ensure Integrity for Farmworkers appeared first on Fair World Project.

Fair World Project Applauds Resolution to Four-Year Labor Dispute Between Farmworkers and Supplier to Driscoll Berries in Washington State

Leading Advocacy Group Facilitates Agreement Between Union and Sakuma Brothers Farm
Portland, OR – Fair World Project, a project of the Organic Consumers Association, the nation’s largest network of green and ethical consumers, is proud to announce the results of an election on September 12 that confirmed the independent union Familias Unidas por la Justicia (Familias Unidas) as the formal representatives of farm workers at Sakuma Brothers Farm (Sakuma) in Washington State, supplier to Driscoll’s, the largest berry distributor in the world. Fair World Project facilitated dialogue between worker representatives of Familias Unidas and executives at Sakuma throughout the summer until an agreement could be reached.

Farmworkers at Sakuma in Burlington, Washington had been locked in a years-long struggle for a fair contract outlining wages, working conditions, and employment terms. On September 4th Familias Unidas and Sakuma reached an agreement that ended their four-year long labor dispute. Part of that agreement provided a process for a free and fair election to confirm Familias Unidas as the representative for hand harvesters at Sakuma Brothers Farm, which took place on September 12th. Contract negotiations between Sakuma and the union will begin soon.

“This is a historical moment. Because farmworkers are excluded from the National Labor Relations Act, which establishes the framework for unions and collective bargaining for most other workers, there are few farms where workers have organized and even fewer independent unions,” said Fair World Project Campaign Director, Kerstin Lindgren. “Both Familias Unidas and Sakuma have shown tremendous leadership and commitment to finding a mutually beneficial outcome. We hope this type of leadership and collaboration can serve as a model for other farms,” continued Lindgren.

Familias Unidas has called for an end of the four-year consumer boycott of both Sakuma and major buyer Driscoll’s. While Familias Unidas has asked all of their boycott committees to cancel events in opposition to Sakuma and to start promoting the farm, some advocates may continue promoting the boycott of Driscoll’s berries on behalf of farmworkers in Mexico who are still struggling for increased pay and dignified working conditions.

In May of 2016, 32 organizations including Fair World Project sent Driscoll’s a letter asking that they uphold their stated commitment to freedom of association by requiring Sakuma management to meet with the workers organized as Familias Unidas. Driscoll’s response was positive and Fair World Project hopes that Driscoll’s continues to insist their suppliers negotiate fairly with workers who choose to organize.

“This news from the fields of Sakuma Brothers Farm is truly inspiring,” said Dana Geffner, Executive Director of Fair World Project. “This agreement is both proof of the power of workers organizing and also proof of the power of consumers who stood in solidarity with these farmworkers during their four-year quest to negotiate a fair contract,” continued Geffner.
Download this press- release: [Download pdf]

###

The post Fair World Project Applauds Resolution to Labor Dispute appeared first on Fair World Project.

Fair World Project Releases Statement on US, China Formal Sign-On to Paris Climate Agreement

Leading Consumer Advocacy Group Calls for Support for Small-Scale Farmers and Fair Trade

Portland, OR – Fair World Project (FWP), a campaign of the Organic Consumers Association, the nation’s largest network of green and ethical consumers, welcomes the United States and China’s ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement. Meeting the Agreement’s emissions reduction targets and adaption goals require political will and significant institutional commitment, as the United States and China jointly are responsible for approximately 40% of global emissions.

As both countries are top producers of the world’s food, a key element to mitigate the consequences of, and adapt to severe climate change will be addressing the conventional global food system. Global industrial agriculture is a key driver in the generation of greenhouse gases (GHG), accounting for 30-50% of total emissions worldwide. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, heavy machinery, monocultures, land change, deforestation, refrigeration, waste and transportation all contribute to a food system that generates significant emissions which escalate global climate change and further perpetuate an inequitable and unhealthy food system. Yet despite the important role conventional agriculture plays in causing the climate crisis, and the potential of alternative food systems to abate it, no mention of agriculture or the food system was made during the ratification announcement.

“There are over 500 million smallholder family farms in the world. Small farmers, practicing organic and agro-ecological farming practices not only feed the majority of the world with less than one quarter of global farmland, but are actively sequestering carbon with ecological farming practices.”
Ryan Zinn, Political Director of Fair World Project.

Despite the scalable ability of small-scale farmers and pastoralists to feed the world’s growing population through “cool farming” practices, they are vulnerable to unfair trade agreements, collapsing financial markets, the global expansion of “bio” or agricultural fuels, land grabs, and destabilizing speculation in the food market, among other threats. Current prevailing policies and practices in trade, land use, energy consumption, and seed patent laws favor large-scale agribusinesses that catalyze climate change, while making it more difficult for small-scale sustainable farmers to stay on endemic land. Without safeguards and support for a “cool farming” food system, the global food supply is put at risk and efforts to combat the climate crisis are severely compromised.

“The Obama Administration’s ratification of the Paris Agreement, while it simultaneously advanced the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)—a massive trade deal involving 12 countries along the Pacific Rim—presents a troubling contradiction. The TPP represents a clear obstacle to climate progress and if President Obama is serious about his commitment to addressing climate chaos, he needs to drop his support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and advocate for a fair and ecological system of global trade.”
Fair World Project Campaign Director, Kerstin Lindgren

The United States government can play a powerful role in combating climate change by supporting regenerative agriculture, and work toward a just economy by prioritizing small-scale farmers. However, to be truly successful and equitable, climate programs at home and abroad must ensure fair prices for farmers, equitable access to land, credit and seeds, as well as institutional safeguards, including reforming unfair trade agreements. Fair World Project congratulates the Obama administration on the milestone of ratification of the Paris Agreement and hopes that this is merely the first step in a serious commitment to tackling the reform that will also include supporting small-scale farmers and denouncing unfair trade agreements.

Download this press- release: [Download pdf]

###

The post Fair World Project Releases Statement on US, China Formal Sign-On to Paris Climate Agreement appeared first on Fair World Project.

Fair Trade Village and Workshops at World Social Forum will Address Trade Policy, Economic Justice, Climate Change and Small-Scale Farmers

Coalition of Fair Trade Advocates to Facilitate Open Discussions, Educational Opportunities and Exhibitions at International Meeting of Civil Society Groups

MONTREAL, CAN – Leading Fair Trade advocacy organizations from around the world are working together to highlight myriad issues related to trade policy and economic justice at the 2016 World Social Forum (WSF), to be held in Montreal, Canada, August 9-14. Represented through a public exhibition called The Fair Trade Village, and numerous workshops as part of the forums broader programing, issues facing the Fair Trade movement, small-scale producers, trade policy and the global economy in general will be a big focus of discussion at this year’s largest gathering of civil society organizations. Debate and controversy around trade policy, the impact and legacy of NAFTA and other historic trade deals as well as the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), currently a major topic in the 2016 U.S. Presidential campaigns, provide a backdrop to many of the pressing issues effecting the global Fair Trade movement.

The Fair Trade Village, located in the heart of Jarry Park, will showcase Fair Trade companies and organizations that are committed to building an economic model that prioritizes people and the planet before profit. Together, both the Fair Trade Village and the many Fair Trade movement-led workshops at the World Social Forum itself will demonstrate the power of small-scale farmers and producers to create true systems of economic change. Fair trade brands and small-scale producer organizations that produce Fair Trade coffee, tea, honey, and spices, as well as non-profit organizations from Canada and the U.S. will be represented, with the shared mission of raising awareness about the need to support Fair Trade , and how doing so benefits farmers, producers, consumers and the environment.

For background on the history and context of Fair Trade, watch The Fair Trade Story: www.FairWorldProject.org/campaigns/keeping-fair-trade-real/

Both open to the public, the Fair Trade focused workshops (included in WSF registration) and the Fair Trade Village (free of charge) will offer educational opportunities, Fair Trade product samples, and information about the successes and ongoing market challenges to Fair Trade. The various workshops focused on Fair Trade at the World Social Forum will take place August 10^th through 12^th, a sampling of this schedule, follows:

August 10, 13h00 – 15h30 Fair Trade Hot Topics

August 12, 9h00 – 11h30 How Small-Scale Farmers can Cool the Planet by Partnering with Fair Brands

August 12, 13h00 – 15h30 Beyond Certification—Examples of Fair Trade of and for the People

For the complete schedule of fair trade workshops and panel discussions taking place, please visit https://fsm2016.org/en/activites_liste

The Fair Trade Village will take place all day on August 13^th and 14^th near the ECOSPHERE in Jarry Park, where the World Social Forum continues for these two days, and will include Fair Trade crafts for sale, product samples, and information from leading non-governmental organizations.

This manifestation is being facilitated by the first coalition of its kind focusing on Fair Trade to attend the World Social Forum, and is composed of World Fair Trade Organization (wfto.com), Fair World Project (fairworldproject.org), Fair Trade Federation (fairtradefederation.org), Canadian Fair Trade Network (cftn.ca), Association Quebecoise du Commerce Equitable (assoquebecequitable.org), Coop Coffee (http://coopcoffees.coop/), and the Fair Trade Advocacy Office (fairtrade-advocacy.org).

The World Social Forum is an annual meeting of civil society organizations, who gather to engage in democratic debate and solution-oriented discussion about the world’s most pressing social issues. For more information about the World Social Forum, visit https://fsm2016.org/en/.

Download this press- release: [Download pdf] 

###

The post Fair World Project will be at the World Social Forum–Find us in the Fair Trade Village appeared first on Fair World Project.

Read the series in the LA Times.

Take action to tell companies to be fair to workers in Mexico.

The post LA Times Report Confirms Horrific Abuses on Farms in Mexico appeared first on Fair World Project.

This year Milan will host the World Expo and in conjunction the World Fair Trade Week 2015 will be held May 23-31. As part of this week, the World Fair Trade Organization will hold their general assembly. Other events will include a fashion show, cooking events, and the 5th fair trade symposium.

For more information about events and the logistics see the invitation.

2015 World Fair Trade Week Events (.pdf)

  posted on: date

The post World Fair Trade Week 2015 Announced appeared first on Fair World Project.

Read more about the proposed regulation and its shortcomings.

Review the sample comment template.

Submit your own comments encouraging EPA to strengthen these regulations and truly protect farmworkers and agricultural communities.

The post EPA Taking Comments on Protecting Agriculture Workers appeared first on Fair World Project.

Read the full statement and sign on showing support.

Read our previous coverage of this research.

Read FWP’s statement in response to the research.

The post Committed Organizations Respond to Fair Trade Research appeared first on Fair World Project.

This report focuses on complex and important issues, and highlights the prevalence of wage laborers even on small-scale fair trade farms. However, though this report contributes to our understanding of fair trade’s strengths and weaknesses, it does not mean that the fair trade model—conceived as a way to enhance opportunities and market access for small-scale farmers—is not working or should be abandoned.

Too often, farmers and co-ops cannot sell all that they produce on fair trade terms. The report does not consider this as a factor in whether farmers are able to provide adequately for their workers. One conclusion that could be drawn is that we need to support with our purchasing dollars those committed brands that put people before profits throughout their entire supply chain so that organized farmers may sell all products under fair trade terms. This would increase the stability of these farms and benefit both producers and workers.

Most commerce and trade worldwide favors the large-scale farms, multinational corporations and other conglomerates that have easy access to capital and can take advantage of economies of scale. These large companies, land-owners, and investors continue to grab land at an alarming rate around the globe. That is why small-scale farmers, despite growing most of the world’s food and making up most of the world’s farmers, have access to just 25% of the world’s land, a proportion that continues to shrink. Those who benefit most are the individuals within this system with power; it is not uncommon for CEOs of these businesses to earn millions of dollars a year. To take one example of this skewed system, a small-scale coffee farmer who sells 100 pounds of coffee to Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee retail chain and one of the largest food companies, in 2013 received on average only $192. A shareholder who owned 100 shares of Starbucks stock in 2013 earned $226. In fact, Starbucks paid only $760.3 million total to coffee farmers in 2013, while returning $1.2 billion to shareholders.

The fair trade movement seeks to change this system and offer an alternative economic model based on long-term relationships, democratic control, and empowerment, which enables small-scale farmers to stay on their land, against all odds, and compete in the global marketplace. Fundamental to the fair trade model is democratic organization allowing farmers to act collectively to access markets and change policies as well as share in profits. Transforming trade and agriculture policies to benefit, not harm, small-scale farmers while simultaneously increasing their market access opportunities is a huge task, and although fair trade alone can never address all the ills of the global trading system, if done well, it can have a big impact on the lives of many of the world’s most marginalized farmers.

Reports such as the FTEPR and subsequent media coverage generates outrage that fair trade isn’t “working.” This is disappointing as it implies the conclusion is that conventional trade is just as good or better than fair trade, even as most people, consumers and producers alike, recognize that our food system is broken and our economic system doesn’t work for many people involved in the production of consumer goods including apparel, body-care, and handicrafts. It concludes that fair trade has failed to fix a problem it never set out to address. That would be like condemning a hospital because your knee surgery did not make your headaches go away. Yes, they are both important problems to address that fit into a similar category (groups marginalized by the current system in one case and medical problems in the analogy), but may not be addressed by the same mechanisms.

Not only was this study limited in its scope to wage laborers in just two countries, it did not look at whether fair trade increased quality of life for small-scale farmers, nor did it examine whether farmers were selling all of their harvest under fair trade terms and how the inability to receive fair trade prices for all or most of their crop may impact their ability to provide benefits and increased wages to employees. Moreover, the study only looked at one tool of the fair trade movement, that is certification, which is a tool primarily designed to verify fair trade standards and principles are being upheld, not to create impact in a fair trade void.

Other researchers who have studied fair trade have found more positive social and economic impacts generated by fair trade. For example, the sociologist Daniel Jaffee, in his landmark book Brewing Justice, compared organized small coffee producers in Oaxaca, Mexico who participated in fair trade markets with their neighbors who sold their harvests to conventional markets, and found statistically significant differences between the two groups. Based on in-depth household surveys, he found that, “in Yagavila and Teotlasco, Oaxaca, the coffee producers who belong to organizations participating in the fair-trade market clearly receive real and significant benefits–social, economic, and environmental–even in the midst of a severe price crisis”. Jaffee detailed the positive impact producer groups experienced working under fair trade conditions: “Compared with their conventional neighbors, the Michiza [cooperative] member families who participate in fair trade are more food secure and less indebted, have higher gross incomes, engage in more environmentally beneficial organic coffee farming methods (and spread those methods beyond coffee plots to their milpas [subsistence food plots]), generate more paid work for local people, and are more likely to continue growing coffee than to abandon or raze their shade-coffee plots. These differences are evidence that fair trade does indeed constitute a fairer, more sustainable market”.

Researchers from the University of Göttingen in Germany, in their 2013 report Food Standards, Certification, and Poverty among Coffee Farmers in Uganda state that Fair Trade certified farms have increased household living standards by 30% significantly reducing the prevalence of poverty.

Fair trade is motivated by the principle that the global economy should be just, fair and equitable. The certified fair trade marketplace is but one of many tools that contribute to a just economy. Fair World Project will continue to stand up for the integrity of fair trade, pressure companies to improve their sourcing and labor practices, educate consumers and manufacturers, and persist in building a global movement toward a just economy.

Posted on  June 9, 2014

The post Fair World Project’s Statement in Response to the “Fair Trade Employment and Poverty Reduction in Uganda and Ethiopia Report” appeared first on Fair World Project.