Fair Trade News

3/29/2004 | Dow Jones Commodities Service

US Sales Of Fair Trade Coffee Grew In 2003 - TransFair USA


New York, March 29 (OsterDowJones) - TransFair USA, a certifier of Fair
Trade products, said Monday it certified 18.7 million pounds of coffee in
2003, nearly double 9.8 million in the previous year.

Fair Trade is a market-based approach to sustainable development, allowing
growers to receive a fair price for top-quality products.

Supplemental income generated for coffee growers in 2003 totaled $15.9
million, bringing the extra income farmers have received from U.S. sales of
Fair Trade Certified coffee in five years to $34 million.

In 2003, 100 new companies signed up to sell Fair Trade Certified products
and 8,000 new outlets began selling Fair Trade Certified products for the
first time, bringing the total to almost 20,000 cafes, restaurants and
supermarkets nationwide.

Fair Trade Certified coffee imports have grown at a dramatic 75% annually
since TransFair USA launched the label in late 1998.

In 2003, Dunkin' Donuts introduced a new line of espresso beverages made
exclusively with Fair Trade Certified coffee beans. The national chain
targeted 1,500 stores across New England for its initial rollout, and plans to
offer the line nationwide in over 4,500 stores later this year.

Procter & Gamble in 2003 launched a Fair Trade Certified coffee - Mountain
Moonlight Fair Trade Certified.

TransFair USA has partnered with nearly 300 specialty coffee companies,
certifying a cumulative total of 41.2 million pounds over the last five years.
Fair Trade Certified products are sold in over 20,000 retail outlets
nationwide.

Since it opened its doors five years ago, TransFair USA's certification of
41 million pounds of coffee, tea and cocoa has translated into millions of
dollars in extra income for farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia - $34
million for coffee farmers alone. Higher incomes allow farmers to devote more
attention to crops to ensure a high quality.

TransFair USA, a nonprofit company, is the sole Fair Trade certification
organization in the U.S. Its audit system tracks products from farm to market,
verifies industry and farmer compliance with Fair Trade criteria.

TransFair authorizes companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label
on products that meet this standard. TransFair USA is part of a global
certification network in over 60 countries.

Susan Buchanan, OsterDowJones
(212) 668-0071
sbuchanan@osterdowjones.com