• Food and Gastronomy -> Food and environment

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How do fair trade standards compare to other certification programs in the food industry?

Jerod Littleover

Well, fair trade certification standards are definitely a step above other certification programs in the food industry. Firstly, they focus on ensuring that farmers and workers are paid a fair price for their labor, while other certifications like organic or non-GMO focus solely on the quality or sustainability of the product.

In fact, according to Fair Trade USA, fair trade farmers earn on average 1.8 times more than non-fair trade farmers for their products. This means that fair trade certification is directly impacting the livelihoods of those involved in the production of our food.

Additionally, fair trade certification also requires companies to adhere to strict environmental and social standards. This means that they must prioritize sustainable practices that limit harm to the environment and ensure that workers are treated with dignity and respect.

In contrast, other certifications like USDA organic do not include social standards or labor practices in their certification process, meaning that a product can be labeled organic even if it was produced using unethical labor practices.

Of course, there is always room for improvement and fair trade certification is not perfect. Some argue that the certification process itself can be expensive and difficult for smaller producers to afford, while others question the effectiveness of certification in truly changing industry practices.

However, overall I believe that fair trade standards are a step in the right direction towards creating a more equitable and sustainable food industry. And as consumers, it's up to us to support these standards by choosing to purchase fair trade certified products whenever possible.