Imports of Fairtrade-certified goods into the US have risen to record volume, according to the latest annual Almanac report from Fair Trade USA – the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the US.
The growth comes on the back of a surge in consumer demand and increased brand recognition for Fairtrade-certified goods as well as the programme’s expansion into popular new product categories, the report said.
Fair Trade USA has also witnessed a “dramatic increase” in Fairtrade-certified organic imports into the US.
“While the world economy saw continued instability in 2010, Fair Trade USA bucked the trend and certified nearly 109m lbs of Fairtrade coffee, 62 per cent of which was also certified organic,” the organisation said.
“As consumer demand for ethically-produced goods increases, we're able to chip away at the cycle of poverty that grips farming communities around the world,” explained Paul Rice, president and CEO of Fair Trade USA.
“Through their participation in Fairtrade, farming families have earned more than US$220m in additional income since 1998, US$56m of which will be invested specifically in community development programs that provide access to education and life-saving health care.”
Increased US demand for Fairtrade items across the boarding 2010 led to expansion within both new and existing product categories, including apparel, green peppers, vodka and a wide array of herbs, spices and extracts.
In 2010, over 8m lbs of all-organic Fairtrade pineapples were also re-introduced to the market. And in 2010 Fairtrade-certified citrus saw a 96 per cent increase in growth.
Currently, there are more than 9,500 Fairtrade-certified consumer products offered by more than 700 industry partners at more than 60,000 retail locations in the US.
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