Domestic Fair Trade Program

Founded upon the same principles as Fair Trade, USFT's Domestic Fair Trade Program connects students with groups supporting farmworkers, small farmers and community organizations working toward a more just agricultural system in the US.

Farmworker Rights

A member of the Alliance for Fair Food, USFT supports the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in organizing for fair wages, better working conditions and an end to modern-day-slavery in the agricultural industry. Farmworkers in the US endure low wages and grueling working conditions: tomato pickers earn 40-45 cents for every 32-lb bucket of tomatoes, and must pick 2.5 tons of tomatoes a day just to earn minimum wage. Most make about $7,000-10,000 a year, far below the poverty line, and are legally denied the right to form a union to address these conditions. The CIW has joined forces with consumers of fast food, students, faith-based groups and other organizations around the country to target the top of the food chain: large corporations whose bulk purchasing rates drive down farmworker wages. Through a broad-based national coalition, the CIW has won tremendous victories against Taco Bell and McDonald's, gaining wage increases, an enforceable code of conduct, transparency within the supply chain for tomato purchases and farmworker participation in decisions. The Student/Farmworker Alliance is a network of students organizing in solidarity with the CIW. Visit SFA at http://www.sfalliance.organd the CIW at http://www.ciw-online.org for more information.

Sustainable Alternatives

A number of sustainable alternatives exist to counter the model of production set by large agribusinesses. For example, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a growing movement that connects consumers with local producers to create a more sustainable food supply chain and support the regional economy. Students have gotten involved and asked their campus food service providers to source locally-grown produce. Additionally, farmer cooperatives and a number of groups throughout the country are working to support the interests of small-scale farmers and create a more just agricultural system.
Visit the following links for more information:
Community Supported Agriculture
Equal Exchange Domestic Fair Trade
Farm to College Programs
Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Family Farm Defenders

Join the Domestic Fair Trade listserv and the Domestic Fair Trade Working Group!

Send an email to domesticft_request@usft.org to join the Domestic Fair Trade listserv. Contact the Domestic Fair Trade Coordinator at domesticft@gmail.com to join the Domestic Fair Trade Working Group or for more information!