October is Fair Trade Month: Fair Trade USA Celebrates Expansion of New Product Categories

Oakland, Ca., October 1, 2014 /3BL Media/ – To kick off Fair Trade Month, Fair Trade USA, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in North America, announces the launch of Fair Trade Certified™ products across new categories, including home goods, apparel and coconut. In 2014, Fair Trade USA partnered with 109 new companies (for a total of 915), and helped launch 455 new Fair Trade Certified products into the North American market.

This October, retailers, brands and ethically-minded consumers join together in celebration of the global impact of Fair Trade. Visit BeFair.org to find out how Fair Trade works, browse the various Fair Trade products that are now available, and learn simple ways to show your support for the farmers and workers who grow, sew and make our favorite products – from chocolate bars and coconut water to t-shirts and rugs. 

More Ways to Buy Fair, Be Fair

The growth and increased availability of Fair Trade products empowers shoppers to choose items that make a real difference – from ensuring that factory workers have safe working conditions, to helping farmers and workers improve their communities and environment. 2014 marked a milestone year with the launch of three new Fair Trade Certified product categories: coconut, apparel and home goods, as well as the expansion of categories like chocolate, tea and fresh produce.

These products are made by more than 1.4 million farmers and workers in 70 countries across the globe, working to fight poverty through better trade. Key highlights from 2014 include:

• Fair Trade is Welcomed Home: Home furnishings retailer West Elm introduces the first-ever Fair Trade Certified rugs, handcrafted in India and available this month. Known for their luxurious, organic bedding, Boll & Branch releases a collection of Fair Trade Certified sheets, pillowcases and cable knit throws. And premium organic brand Coyuchi announces plans to launch Fair Trade Certified Air Weight Bath Towels in Spring 2015.

• Fair Trade Closets Fill Up: Outdoor clothing company Patagonia introduces its inaugural line of 10 women’s yoga styles. Fair Trade pioneer prAna extends its line of Fair Trade Certified styles for both men and women. Oliberté expands its line of the first-ever shoes made in a Fair Trade Certified factory with new women’s styles. PACT launches an impressive 78 different items across 19 product styles including the first-ever Fair Trade Certified baby clothes, Under the Canopy brings Fair Trade Certified robes to Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Mountain Equipment Co-Op brings Fair Trade apparel to stores in Canada with women’s tees.

• Coconut Boom: Earlier this year, Fair Trade USA welcomed coconut into its offerings to help close the gap between skyrocketing sales in North America, and poverty-level incomes earned by coconut farmers in the Philippines. New products include Naked Coconut Water, Coco Libre Coconut Water, Nutiva Coconut Oil, Nutiva O’Coconut Treats and Arrowhead Mills Organic Coconut Flour.

• Honest Tea Sweetens the Deal for Sugar Farmers: Honest Tea was the first company to introduce a Fair Trade Certified bottled tea in 2003, and now, all of the teas made with organic sugar in its glass-bottled line will be sweetened with organic sugar that is Fair Trade Certified  to complement the organic and Fair Trade teas already being used. Fair Trade premiums for the organic cane sugar help fund community development projects in Paraguay chosen by farmers, including healthcare services, farming equipment, higher-quality schools, and microloans. (View video here)

• Additional new products across Fair Trade USA’s robust food and beverage categories include: Honest Tea Radiant Raspberry tea; High Brew cold-brew coffee; Third Street ready to drink iced teas and lemonade; Alter Eco Sea Salt Truffles and Salted Caramel Truffles; BJ’s Wellsley Farms® bakery products featuring Fair Trade Certified sugar; Keurig  K-cup teas from Honest Tea, Celestial Seasonings and Bigelow, Dang Chocolate Coated Coconut Chips, Ito En green tea bags, Near East quinoa blends, Numi turmeric teas, Traditional Medicinals Green Tea Herbals, TOMS Roasting Co. coffee and much more.

To get involved this Fair Trade Month:

When shopping, look for the Fair Trade Certified label and Buy Fair. Try swapping one item in your daily routine – like changing your cup of coffee or banana for the Fair Trade version. Or, make a commitment to buy at least one Fair Trade product every time you shop.

• Visit BeFair.org for information about Fair Trade products and categories including interactive Pinterest pages featuring new Fair Trade Certified items.

• Did You Know? Check out the Fair Trade Facts at BeFair.org

• Read and share stories, videos and educational infographics about the impact you can make when you Buy Fair.

• Participate in the #BeFair Twitter Party on Tuesday, October 7, at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT to learn about Fair Trade and win Fair Trade prizes.

• Join the #BeFair social media community for daily Fair Trade giveaways.

To learn more about Fair Trade USA, visit www.FairTradeCertified.org, follow @fairtradeusa on Twitter, at @FairTradeUSA on Instagram, and “like” the Fair Trade USA Facebook page. 

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About Fair Trade USA

Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers, protects fragile ecosystems, and builds strong, transparent supply chains through independent, third-party certification. Its trusted Fair Trade Certified™ label signifies that rigorous standards have been met in the production, trade and promotion of Fair Trade products from over 70 countries across the globe. Recognized as a leading social venture by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Skoll Foundation and Ashoka, Fair Trade USA also provides critical capacity-building programs at origin, and educates consumers about the power of their purchase. Visit www.FairTradeCertified.org for more information.