What is the Rainforest Alliance Certification?

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"The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, we involve businesses and consumers worldwide in our efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily.

We set standards for sustainability that conserve wildlife and wildlands and promote the well-being of workers and their communities. Farms and forestry enterprises that meet our comprehensive criteria receive the Rainforest Alliance certification seal. We also work with tourism businesses, to help them succeed while leaving a small footprint on the environment and providing a boost to local economies.

Background Information

Members & supporters: 33,000
Annual budget: $33 million
Board Chair and Co-Founder: Daniel R. Katz
President: Tensie Whelan
Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in New York State: 1987
Recognized as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS: 1987."

-c/o Rainforest Alliance Site

.To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org

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What is the Fair Trade Certification?

"The global Fair Trade certification system empowers southern producers and guarantees them a better deal for the sale of their products. Fair Trade addresses the injustice of low prices by guaranteeing that producers receive fair terms of trade and fair prices – however unfair the conventional market is. In addition to the Fairtrade Minimum Price, the Fairtrade Labelling system guarantees a Premium to producer organizations or worker bodies to enable them to invest in social, economic or environmental improvements.

The concept of Fair Trade, however, goes far beyond a simple economic transaction. At the heart of Fair Trade are long term relationships between producers and buyers, enabling producers to strengthen their businesses and diversify their sources of income. Unlike aid, which is dependent on donors, Fair Trade offers a more sustainable solution for farmers, workers, and their families to improve their livelihoods.

In 2006, the Fair Trade system benefited approximately 1.4 million workers and farmers in 57 developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

www.fairtrade.net

Extending the range of Fairtrade products

The range of products certified by FLO is steadily expanding as new product development is a very important issue for the future of Fair Trade. TransFair Canada currently has 12 Fair Trade Certified products sold by Canadian Licensees, whereas FLO certifies a total of 18 product categories including dried fruit, fresh vegetables and nut and nut oils.On the producer side, product range extension is important because it allows new producers and workers to join Fair Trade. And for producers of existing products, like coffee, new products create opportunities to diversify production and reduce their dependency on just one crop. On the market side, the demand for expansion of the Fair Trade product range is evident, and for many companies involved in Fairtrade a broad product range is crucial for the economic viability of their involvement."

-c/o Transfair.ca Site

To learn more about Fair Trade, visit www.transfair.ca

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SHOP ORGANIC/RAINFOREST ALLIANCE

Click here to shop for Be'ato Organic Fair Trade Coffees

or here for Be'ato Rainforest Alliance Coffees ►

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