Fair Trade on the Rise: 2015 Brings Wave of New Fair Trade Certified™ Products
Product launches increased 30% in 2014, helping farmers and workers invest in their futures and improve their communities.
Oakland, CA, March 5, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Fair Trade USA, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in North America, announces the launch of hundreds of new Fair Trade Certified™ apparel and consumer packaged goods (CPG) in the first quarter of 2015. These new products add to the nearly 500 Fair Trade Certified items launched in 2014 alone.
First known for coffee, the Fair Trade Certified label continues to expand into new categories spanning nearly every aisle of the grocery store and beyond. This spring, when shoppers look for the Fair Trade Certified label on products, they will find innovative snacks, desserts, ready-to-drink beverages, and an even broader range of produce and apparel offerings. An important addition for 2015 is Fair Trade USA’s newest certified product – seafood. Consumers can now find the first-ever Fair Trade Certified tuna at Safeway supermarkets. Their purchases will address both social and environmental responsibility in fishing communities across the globe.
“More and more consumers - particularly Millennials – want to know how their food is being grown and who is growing it,” said Mary Jo Cook, Chief Impact Officer at Fair Trade USA. “Brands are listening, and we are energized by the many new companies beginning their Fair Trade journey, and inspired by those who continue to deepen their commitment to people and planet through our model. There’s still a long way to go, yet we are optimistic by all the positive change that is occurring in farming communities around the world.”
As Fair Trade product options continue to grow, consumers are able to help even more farmers and workers invest in their businesses and communities, earn fair wages, protect the environment, and work in safe conditions. Newly-released products include:
Decadent Fair Trade Chocolates & Sweets: 42 Vosges Haut-Chocolat Chocolate Bars; 8 Wild Ophelia Chocolate Bars; 4 Simple Truth Dark Organic Chocolate Bars, Whole Foods Market 365 Everyday Value Coffee and Chocolate Ice Creams; Alter Eco Dark Salted Burnt Caramel bar; 7 new bittersweet and milk chocolates bars from Guittard Chocolate (including the Soleil d’Automne bar, winner of a 2015 Good Food award); Natural Nectar Organic Coconut & Key Lime Macaroon Cookies; 3 flavors of Batch Ice Cream; Zola Organic Dark Chocolate Covered Acai-Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Covered Natural Coconut treats; NadaMoo Cookies and Cream Ice Cream; ALDI Baker’s Corner Baking Mixes and Organic Cane and Brown Sugars; Wholesome!™ Sugars, Agaves, and Honeys.
Creative Uses of Fair Trade Ingredients: Cascadian Farms Berry Vanilla Puffs Organic Cereal, Soft Baked Squares, and Chocolate Lover’s Organic Premium Granola; Tera’s Whey Hunger Control Organic Protein Powder; Arrowhead Mills Organic Rice and Shine Hot Cereal; Attune Foods Probiotic Bars; NutriGold Coconut Oil; Lazy Acres Tea Tree Mint and Vanilla Mandarin Lip Balms.
Uplifting Fair Trade Beverages: Honest zero-calorie Cinnamon Sunrise and Ginger Oasis Herbal Teas; Numi Organic Tea RealCup Single Serve Capsules; In the Raw™ bottled Lemonade, Lemon Flavored Tea and Cola; Caleb’s Kola; Simple Truth Organic Guayusa teas in 5 flavors; Runa bottled Peach and Raspberry Guayusa teas; Third Street Lemongrass Green Tea and Half and Half Green Lemonade; HiBall Energy Mocha, Coffee and Vanilla drinks; Steaz Grapefruit Honey Iced Green Tea and Half & Half Iced Green Tea.
Fair Trade Apparel and Home Goods: Coyuchi AirWeight™ Bath Collection Towels; 26 handcrafted rugs from West Elm; Boll & Branch organic bedding, including duvet covers, sheets and blankets; 17 men’s, women’s and baby items from PACT, featuring hoodies, t-shirts and underwear; 33 Patagonia men’s, women’s and baby items; 40 new items from prAna, including a greatly expanded line of men’s wear; an updated line of Oliberte shoes made in Ethiopia.
Fair Trade Produce: There are now more than 25 types of Fair Trade produce available in North America. The newest items are melons from Guatemala and strawberries from Mexico.
With numerous new products to choose from, consumers now have more options when buying fair. Both consumers and new brand partners are embracing Fair Trade, as they realize that responsible and fair supply chains foster sustainability and help improve the lives of farmers and workers.
###
Editor’s Note: Fair Trade USA and many of its partner brands will attend Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA March 5 – 8, 2015. For more details on these Fair Trade Certified products or to schedule a meeting at the show, please contact Katie Schneider at kschneider@fairtradeusa.org.
About Fair Trade USA:
Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods for farmers, workers, and fishermen, 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 capacity-building programs at origin and educates consumers about the power of their purchase. Visit www.FairTradeCertified.org for more information.
