Stakeholders

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One of the strengths of DFTA is our ability to bring together diverse organizations under a common vision and mission. For the purposes of membership, we have identified five stakeholder groups:

 

Farmers and Farmer Co-operatives and Associations:

Family and small-scale farmers and democratic farmers co-operatives that serve and represent them, committed to a vision of fair trade, food justice and sustainable agriculture. Farmer is defined as one who owns, operates, or manages a farm engaged in primary agricultural production (raising of crops or livestock). (S)he is in charge of decisions related to agricultural production, marketing, and other aspects of the business. Members of the farmers family are considered farmers, even if receiving a wage (rather than farmworkers). Farmer Co-operatives and Associations are democratically structured organizations comprised of and led by farmers, with membership open to any farmer consistent with the co-operative s or association s mission. Organizations that advocate for or provide services to farmers but are not comprised of and led by farmers, as defined above, should be classified as NGOs for purposes of the DFTA. Our current farmer members are Farmer Direct Co-operative, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Organic Valley, Swanton Berry Farm, Upstream Natives, Greenwillow Grains, and Willamette Seed and Grain.

Farmworkers Organizations

Organizations representing agricultural workers that are dedicated to social justice and human rights for workers, and particularly those with an agrarian vision that includes farm labor and small producers. A farmworker is defined as hired labor (waged or salaried employee) in a non-supervisory position and engaged in primary agricultural activity (crop or livestock production and related activities). Farmworker Organizations are trade unions or other democratically structured, representative organizations comprised of and led by farmworkers, with membership open to any farmworker consistent with the organization s mission. Consistent with ILO Convention 135 and the ISO definition of worker, this sector also excludes representatives of organizations established or effectively controlled by employers, industry or governments in any way. (ISO) Organizations that advocate for or provide services to farmworkers but are not comprised of and led by farmworkers as defined above, should be classified as NGOs for purposes of the DFTA. Our current farmworker members are The Farmworker Support Committee (CATA), Centro Campesino, Community to Community Development, and Farmworker Association of Florida.

Intermediary Trading Organizations including Marketers, Processors, and Manufacturers

Organizations whose main activity is trade with other organizations or enterprises, and who are committed to fair trade, sustainable agriculture, and social justice. This includes wholesalers, distributors, processors, manufacturers, and marketers. Our current intermediary trading organizations are Dr. Bronner s Magic Soaps, Food for Thought, Once Again Nut Butter, Discovery Organics, and Maggie’s Organics. This sector has identified the following issues that they would like to address within the context of DFTA:

• Address the issue of volume credit. (Volume credit is the idea that fair trade and non-fair trade raw ingredients are mixed together in the manufacturing process and “credit” is given to the end product based on the amount of fair trade raw ingredient purchased, even if it is diluted through processing. This often happens with chocolate.)
• Advise processors about fair trade certification options and membership organizations that may enhance their mission.
• Aspire to communicate directly to consumers.
• Ensure transparency in multi-ingredient products.
• Respond to consumer demand for traceability.
• Educate other sectors on issues facing this group and be receptive to what other sectors of the agriculture system have to offer.

Retailers, Food Co-operatives, & Farmers Markets

Retailers and other organizations whose main activity is bringing [food] products to the end consumer, and who support fair trade, family farming, sustainable agriculture, and social justice. They demonstrate their support by making such activities a significant part of their business, and providing relevant information to consumers. This category includes retail stores, farmers markets, and buying clubs. Our current retail members are Berkshire Co-op, Bluff Country Co-op, Franklin Community Co-op, National Cooperative Grocers Association, Olympia Co-op, New Orleans Food Co-op, Central Co-op and Seward Co-op.

 

Civil Society Organizations and NGOs

Organizations that do not fall under one of the other categories, whose main activity is not trade, and that work for one or more of the following: fair trade, social justice, human rights for workers, family farming, sustainable agriculture, food security, health, and conscientious consumption. This category includes organizations that provide services to those in the other categories, organizations involved in advocacy and research, faith-based organizations, and cross-sector coalitions. Our current NGO members are Coop Fund New England, Cooperative Development Institute, Family Farm Defenders, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Florida Organic Growers/QCS, Just Harvest USA, Organic Consumers Association, Pesticide Action Network of North America, Red Tomato, Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, Food Chain Workers Alliance, Institute for Marketecology, and Fair, Local, Organic (FLO) Foods.