“Fair Trade, Sustainability and Social Change”, by Ian Hudson, Mark Hudson and Mara Fridell, should be required reading for anyone interested in the strategic direction, challenges and opportunities of Fair Trade and its social movement. Only once every 5-10 years does such a thoughtful book come out about the big picture and major issues in Fair Trade. Although a bit academic at times for the lay reader, the authors present in accessible style critical topics like the pros ...

Author:  mandy catlette Years after pioneering the natural, organic foods movement and the radical notion of a more sustainable business model, food co-ops remain leaders in the grocery industry in ways that are increasingly important to consumers. In a study released by the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) this past August, titled “Healthy Foods Healthy Communities: The Social and Economic Impacts of Food Co-ops,“ we now have a ...

Institute for Marketecology (IMO) Fair for Life (FFL) certification program announced the first-ever animal aquaculture product certified under any Fair Trade system. Pacific white shrimps became available as FFL in August 2012, marketed by an Ecuadorian company. Also, FFL certified biodegradable bags, made of tapioca starch, became available in June. More at FFL press release.