When did Fair Trade Start?
The Fair Trade movement began to take shape after World War II, when Edna Ruth Byler began helping female artisans in Puerto Rico sell their products for a fair price. That became a global movement for a more fair system of trade that benefits all. Fair Trade USA™, the largest third party certifier of Fair Trade products in North America was founded in 1998.
Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade USA was founded by Paul Rice in 1998 to support coffee farmers in obtaining fair pay and safer working conditions. Fair Trade Certification has since expanded to more than 50 countries, certifying over 12,500 products. Fair Trade USA standards require fair pay, safe working conditions, and the distribution of Community Development Funds for workers to use on projects of their choosing.
Key Moments
- 1998: Fair Trade USA is founded
- 2004: Fair Trade expands into the produce sector
- 2005: Fair Trade products begin to hit the mainstream, with select coffee products retailed by Costco, Sam’s Club, and select McDonald’s.
- 2012: Fair Trade USA parts ways with Fair Trade International—the international Fairtrade system made up of Fairtrade International and 19 national member organizations. Fair Trade USA announces a vision to double the impact of fair trade for farmers and workers by 2015. The organizations continue to share a common mission to empower farmers and workers around the world.
- 2014: West Elm becomes the first home retailer to join Fair Trade USA
- 2015: Fair Trade USA announces that their vision was successful, and impact has grown from $79 million to $203 million between 2011 and 2015.
- 2018: Fair Trade Celebrates 20 years and $551 million in direct financial benefit to producers, including nearly $380 million in Community Development Funds and more than $172 million as a result of the Fair Trade Minimum price.
- 2023: Fair Trade USA reaches the milestone of returning over $1 billion in financial benefit to farmers, workers, and fishers across the globe.
- 2025: Fair Trade celebrates $100 million in Community Development Funds generated and distributed to workers in certified factories.
Paul Rice, Founder of Fair Trade USA
Paul Rice is the founder and visionary behind Fair Trade USA. After working with family farmers for 11 years in Nicaragua, he decided to start the organization with the goal of using the power of consumers and businesses to improve people’s lives and protect the planet.
Today, over 1,500 brands and retailers carry products – from coffee and chocolate to apparel and seafood – that feature the Fair Trade Certified™ label. On Paul’s watch, the organization and its partners generated over $1.2 billion in cumulative financial impact for over 1.6 million farmers, workers and their families in 70 countries worldwide. Paul published a book in 2025 about his journey founding Fair Trade called “Every Purchase Matters”.
The Future of Fair Trade
Fair Trade continues to expand with the goal of advancing fair pay, safe working conditions, and improving livelihoods for farmers and workers around the globe. As more companies join the movement, more global impact is created for people and our planet.