The Domestic Fair Trade Association, in partnership with the Center for Fair and Alternative Trade at Colorado State University, released on May 11 a compilation of all the research that’s ever been done about domestic fair trade, just in time for World Fair Trade Day on May 12. Seward Community Co-op is a founding member of the DFTA.
“A Report on Market and Supply Chain: Research on Domestic Fair Trade” is the first report of its kind and displays a comprehensive overview of research regarding consumer market patterns and awareness of domestic fair trade messaging. Information about consumer preferences from this newly compiled research brings valuable insight for farmworkers, farmers, food co-ops and nongovernmental organizations committed to ecological sustainability and social justice.
The study shows 80 percent of co-op shoppers said they are interested in learning more about domestic fair trade and that food co-ops are the ideal venue for educating customers. U.S. consumers now consider social justice issues equally as important as environmental concerns.
Release of this report is in celebration of World Fair Trade Day, an inclusive worldwide festival of events hosted by the World Fair Trade Organization, celebrating fair trade’s contribution to sustainable development, economic empowerment of small producers, gender equality in workplaces and responsible production practices.