Farmworker Awareness Week Spotlight: NatureSweet® 

Fair Trade Certified standards were created to help farmers access fair pay, safe working conditions, and more opportunities to invest in thriving futures for their families and communities. Our model works to support farmers by addressing common challenges and elevating worker voice to build stronger and more resilient supply chains.

So, how exactly does Fair Trade benefit farmers?

• Fair Pricing: Minimum price protections help protect farmers from market fluctuations and access steady profits for their products.
• Safe Working Conditions: Fair Trade standards require safe conditions for farmers, which includes limits on hours worked, appropriate break times, and equipment safety measures.
• Training and Support: Access to career development helps farmers lean into their expertise and improve their businesses.
• Community Development Funds: Farmers earn additional income through Community Development Funds, which can be used for projects of their choosing. Fair Trade encourages democratic decision-making, giving farmers a direct voice in how funds and resources are used.

Growing a Better Future: How NatureSweet Partners with Fair Trade Certified to Support Farmworkers

NatureSweet began its partnership with Fair Trade USA in 2021 and continues to raise the bar by strengthening its commitment to social, environmental, and economic impact across farming communities. Approximately 9,000 Associates grow, harvest, package, and transport NatureSweet’s fruits and vegetables, supporting a model that prioritizes both quality and worker well-being. NatureSweet Associates tell the Fair Trade story best.

Below, you’ll find four powerful testimonials that highlight how workers are utilizing Fair Trade Standards and Community Development Funds to access transportation, grocery distribution, leadership opportunities, and more.

1. Margarita shares her experience serving on a Fair Trade Committee and how funds benefit her community:  

2. Viviana shares how standards on certified farms make a difference: 

3. Rogelio shares how serving as President of a Fair Trade Committee helped him connect with his community:  

4. Mirna shares the importance of safety standards, and how Fair Trade USA Standards help advance them:  

A More Resilient Model for Global Agriculture

We know that farmworkers have the best insights into the needs of their communities. They also hold invaluable expertise on how to tackle some of today’s most urgent social and environmental challenges. This is why Fair Trade USA works directly with farm workers to collect ongoing feedback on how our standards are supporting continuous improvement and how we can best evolve to keep pace with our changing world.  

We are currently undergoing a scheduled revision of our Agricultural Standards, and are looking for public feedback on our proposed updates. Will you share your thoughts? Head over to our standards page to get started.