IMO joins The Domestic Fair Trade Association
San Francisco, CA – April 22, 2010 – Just in time for Earth Day, The Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA) this week announced the acceptance of The Institute for Marketecology (IMO)—certifiers of Fair for Life Fair Trade Certification—as an active member to the association. The DFTA is an association of organizations who are committed to promoting and protecting the integrity of Domestic Fair Trade Principles through education, marketing, advocacy and endorsements.
The Birth of a Movement
Many people today are familiar with international fair trade as a movement to ensure fair prices and premiums paid to farmers, as well as a system that promotes fair and transparent relationships between farmers and buyers, and protects principals of environmental and social responsibility. However, as the movement has grown it has become apparent that many of the challenges producers are facing in developing countries are comparable to what family farmers and farmer groups often have to deal with here in North America.
DFTA members have come together to contribute to a movement for fairness, equity and sustainability that supports family-scale farming, farmer-led initiatives such as farmer co-operatives, just conditions for farm workers, and the strengthening of the organic agriculture movement. The DFTA members seek to bring these efforts together with mission-based traders, retailers and consumers to contribute to the movement for a more equitable, diverse and sustainable agriculture in North America and around the world. By creating businesses committed to principles of fairness and equity and leading by example, we hope to create positive change in the mainstream marketplace by influencing the conduct of conventional corporations.
Fair for Life Extends to Domestic Production
“Fair for Life” is a brand neutral third party certification program for social accountability and fair trade in agricultural, manufacturing and trading operations. The program was developed in 2006 and complements existing fair trade certification systems. It provides fair trade market access to a wide variety of products while raising the bar for brand holders. Fair for Life has gained market acceptance with several important brands achieving the certification, such as Guayaki and Dr. Bronner’s, and it has been accepted by Whole Foods Market under its Whole Trade Guarantee.
With their acceptance into the DFTA, IMO now formally announces its call for applications for North American operations that would like to become pilot certification projects for the application of Fair for Life Fair Trade standards in a Domestic Fair Trade context. To receive an application form, operators should email kerry@imo-control.org.
Social accountability and fair trade have become important indicators to select business partners in a global market place. The IMO Social & FairTrade Certification Programme combines strict social and fair trade standards with adaptability to local conditions. With over 30 IMO offices world-wide, Fair for Life inspection and certification can be combined with other certification programs, such as Organic, FSC, GOTS, streamlining the certification process. The program is a supply chain certification designed for both food and non food commodities (cosmetics, textiles, handicraft and others).
For more information about IMO and Fair for Life, visit www.FairForLife.net, or contact Kerry Hughes at (707) 644-2354, or by email: kerry@imo-control.org. For more information about The Domestic Fair Trade Association, visit www.dftassociation.org, or contact Kerstin Lindgren at (617) 680-9862 or by email: dftassociation@gmail.com.
