Authentic Fair Trade
Authentic Fair Trade
Outpost supports Fair Trade products and the standards in place that truly make trade fair for everyone in the supply chain. However, the true spirit of Fair Trade is under threat from the addition of large plantation farms (most notably, but not limited to, coffee, tea, cacao) into the Fair Trade marketplace. This game changer is largely the result of the actions of one very large third party certifying organization, Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA), which has now pulled out altogether from Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) in pursuit of its own interests.
Under FLO, Fair Trade standards support small producer organizations. What's at stake now for small farmers is they have to compete in price with large plantations, which is not in the spirit and intent of the developers of Fair Trade standards.
Outpost has joined voices with thousands of other individuals, co-ops, producers and retailers in a public statement organized by Equal Exchange in support of authentic Fair Trade. Read more about this and voice your opinion, too! While there is a lot to read, it's important to understand what's happening and why it's important to make Fair Trade an international program we can all get behind.
We want an equal playing field, however, until the issue is sorted out, certainly continue to support and purchase all Fair Trade products wherever you find them.