OAKLAND, CA. – (October 14, 2024) – Producers and retailers are looking for ways to improve environmental and human rights conditions in the avocado sector and Fair Trade USA is offering solutions. Western demand for avocados has grown exponentially over the last decade–and people and the planet are paying the price. Forced to keep pace with what farmers call the “avocado goldrush”, negative environmental impacts are rampant in many avocado farming regions for communities as well as production. An estimated one third of all avocado farms in Mexico are reported to be illegal farms, and up to 70,000 acres in Michoacán and neighboring Jalisco state in Mexico have been deforested for avocado farming in the last decade. Water reservoirs are being illegally emptied to support farming, and farmers who speak out against deforestation and working conditions are often at risk. To improve working conditions and protect critical biodiversity in avocado regions, farms, distributors, and retailers are looking to Fair Trade USA.
Fair Trade USA has been a trusted partner in supply chain sustainability since opening its doors in 1998. The organization works to create transformative social, environmental, and economic impact for communities around the world. To do this, Fair Trade USA helps amplify the voices of workers to understand and address their unique needs. Fair Trade USA’s Agricultural Production Standard mandates that there is no deforestation or degradation of natural forests and that impacts on protected areas, forests, and waterways are minimized. These requirements are why so many companies, including avocado distributors, turn to Fair Trade USA for partnership in building sustainable supply chains.
“Fair Trade USA exists to partner with farms, workers, retailers, and brands to create safe and fair working conditions and protect the environment.” says Felipe Arango, interim CEO at Fair Trade USA. “Strong standards are needed to better the avocado industry, and we are excited to partner with producers to certify more farms and improve the lives of farmers.”
Fair Trade USA has worked closely with brands and distributors, including Whole Foods Market, to get more certified avocados onto the shelves. Most recently, Grupo Aguacatero los Cerritos joined the movement as the newest Fair Trade Certified™ avocado operation, with their avocados available through new Fair Trade USA partner GLC Cerritos and others. These partnerships are an important step in addressing the deforestation issue and serve as a model for others in the industry. When you see the Fair Trade Certified label on produce, you know that you have found a product that is adhering to rigorous standards, and that those standards are transforming the lives of real people around the globe.
Fair Trade USA’s Leadership and Produce teams are excited to see so many of their partners as well as anyone interested in learning more at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta, Georgia. They will be co-hosting an event with GLC Cerritos, where both teams will showcase the initiatives that promote sustainability and responsible trade. Come see the Fair Trade USA team at booth C2526!
For more information about Fair Trade USA, get in touch.
About Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade USA, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the leading certifier of Fair Trade products in North America. Its award-winning, rigorous, and globally recognized sustainable sourcing certification programs improve livelihoods, protect the environment, and build resilient, transparent supply chains. The trusted Fair Trade Certified™ label on a product signifies that it was made according to stringent Fair Trade standards. Fair Trade USA is building an innovative model of responsible business, conscious consumerism, and shared value to eliminate poverty and enable sustainable development for farmers, workers, their families, and communities around the world.
Contact:
Fair Trade Public Relations
pr@fairtradeusa.org