Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Domestic Fair Trade Association

The Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA) is an association of members from across the food and agriculture system representing farmers, farmworkers, food system workers, retailers, marketers, processors, manufacturers, and NGOs. Our mission is to promote and protect the integrity of Domestic Fair Trade Principles through education, marketing, advocacy, and endorsements. Our primary goals are to support family-scale farming, to reinforce farmer-led initiatives such as farmer co-operatives, and to bring these groups together with mission-based traders, retailers, and concerned consumers to build the movement for sustainable agriculture in North America.

 

What are the Domestic Fair Trade Principles

The Domestic Fair Trade Principles are our attempt to bring the principles of international fair trade, as expressed by organizations such as the World Fair Trade Organization and the Fair Trade Federation, into the domestic, regional, and local economic spheres. The principles are not standards, but rather represent the values that underlie and guide our work. The principles cover the topics of family-scale farming; capacity building for producers and workers; democratic and participatory ownership and control; rights of labor; equality and opportunity; direct trade; fair and stable pricing; shared risk and affordable credit; long-term trade relationships; sustainable agriculture; appropriate technology; indigenous peoples rights; transparency and accountability; and education and advocacy. The full principles can be found on our website.

 

How and when did the Domestic Fair Trade Association begin

The idea for DFTA began in 2005 when several businesses and non-profits joined together in a conversation about the similarities between the issues facing rural communities around the world, including North America. At the same time, there was concern that the national organic standards in the U.S. had left out concern for the people in agriculture systems. This group realized a movement was needed that would combine social justice, environmentally responsible agriculture, and fair trading practices. DFTA was incorporated in 2007 and continues to lead the movement forward.

 

Is the Domestic Fair Trade Association developing standards or a label for domestic fair trade products

No. DFTA is not developing domestic fair trade standards or a label. We are developing criteria for endorsement of fair trade programs. The criteria, based on the principles of domestic fair trade, are used to evaluate domestic fair trade standards, labels, and other initiatives in order to set a high bar for fair trade programs and protect against fair-washing. We have published our evaluations on our website so that consumers will have a place to find objective information about fair trade claims. Those products and programs that meet our criteria for endorsement are promoted and those that are inadequate or misleading are critiqued. New programs are in the process of evaluation as well. To view our evaluations please visit www.fairfacts.thedfta.net.

 

How are the Agricultural Justice Project and the Domestic Fair Trade Association related

Four founding members of the Agricultural Justice Project (AJP), CATA the Farmworker Support Committee, Florida Organic Growers (FOG), NOFA-the Northeast Organic Farming Association, and RAFI – Rural Advancement Fund International, are also founding members of DFTA. Both organizations were born out similar values and a similar desire to ensure a social justice component in our agriculture system. However, the two organizations play very different roles. AJP is has developed social justice standards for organic and sustainable agriculture. DFTA is a membership organization bringing together diverse stakeholders in the agriculture system and with a mission to promote and protect the integrity of Domestic Fair Trade Principles through education, marketing, advocacy, and endorsement.

 

Are there currently any domestic products that carry a fair trade certification or label

Yes. The Agricultural Justice Project’s (AJP) Food Justice Certification program, The Institute for Marketecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life program, and Fair Trade USA’s Fair Trade Certified program all include fair trade certifications for domestic products. You can read more about these programs and the growing movement for fair trade in the global north in our recent Fair World Project article, “Fair Trade in the Global North: Domestic Fair Trade Association Evaluates an Emerging Landscape.”

 

Does DFTA hold any meetings

We hold an annual meeting, typically in December. The meeting is open to both members and non-members.  In 2014 our annual meeting will be hosted by the New Orleans Food Co-op. For more information and to register click here. 

 

Does it have to be so complicated
Our mission is simple. What is complicated is untangling the current system. While it may seem like there are a lot of organizations to keep track of and a lot of terminology to learn, keep in mind that if the conventional agriculture system ensured fair opportunities for family scale farmers, fair treatment and wages for farmworkers, real choices for consumers, and transparent information for all, we would not need to develop new standards for fair trade and social justice or criteria for evaluating market claims.