Fair Trade USA works to empower family farmers and agricultural workers around the world.
Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization that develops and oversees standards that help ensure safe working conditions, environmental protections, and worker’s rights. A small premium is collected on every box of Fair Trade produce we sell, and this premium is returned to a committee of farm workers from different job positions and operational areas on that farm. This committee polls workers regarding their priorities and the needs of their community, then oversees the execution of the projects. Farms all around the world have been able to create infrastructure, medical clinics, education programs, recreation facilities and so much more because consumers chose to purchase Fair Trade products.
Our Fair Trade Products + Premiums
Our Fair Trade Growers
Rico Farms has two locations in Mexico: one in Hermosillo, and the other in Guaymas. They were certified Fair Trade in 2013 and 2018, respectively. Since then, over $550,000 has been returned to their worker committees.
With these funds, they have completed projects that benefit the workers while on the farm and in their home communities. On the farm multiple recreation areas were funded including a turf soccer field, multipurpose sport court, an outdoor gym, and a multifunctional shade structure. They have also installed air conditioning in all the worker housing.
Providing assistance to the workers families and communities has been an increasing priority for the Fair Trade committee. In 2019 they introduced a project that allows workers to make structural improvements and repairs to their homes by providing construction materials, including cement, cinder blocks and metal roof sheets. These home improvements allow the workers to provide a better life for their families even if they are away at the farm. This project was such a success that the worker committee voted to reintroduce it in 2022 to aid the current and future workers.
During the pandemic they also started a voucher program which allows workers to use the Fair Trade funds while at the farm or in their home communities to help purchase food and household items like cleaning supplies and personal care items. Because this helps cover some of their basic necessities, it allows them to allocate more of their wages for other needs they or their families may have. This has been a popular program with the workers, who choose to renew it for multiple seasons, as it causes a direct and immediate positive impact on the workers their families and their communities.
Floriza en Los Parajes in Culiacán, Mexico have always seen their farm as a way to revitalize their community and farmland. Therefore, they dedicated themselves to Fair Trade principles and were certified by Fair Trade USA in October of 2017. They hope that working together to administer funds for the general good will lead to a positive impact on the workers political engagement, social relationships, and personal economies.
Bridges Produce is proud to represent the Rico Farms and Aztlan labels and partner with these incredible families and communities. They not only grow high quality organic produce but are driven by a greater mission to make a positive social, economic, and environmental impact for generations to come.
