Equal Exchange is a worker-owned Fair Trade organization that was founded in 1986. The brand offers organic coffees, chocolates, teas, and snacks that are sourced from small-scale farmers in the Global South. The brand aims to create a more equitable and sustainable world through its trading practices, by paying fair prices to farmers and building long-term relationships with them.
Equal Exchange was founded in 1986 by three people: Jonathan Rosenthal, Michael Rozyne, and Rink Dickinson.
The brand's initial goal was to challenge traditional trade models that had exploited small-scale farmers in developing countries.
Equal Exchange started importing Nicaraguan coffee in the late 1980s, and since then, it has expanded its product offering to include chocolate, tea, and other products.
In addition to selling organic and Fair Trade products, Equal Exchange also advocates for trade policies that benefit small farmers.
The brand operates as a worker-owned cooperative, which means that its workers share in the company's profits and decision-making processes.
Today, Equal Exchange works with over 40 farmer cooperatives in 25 countries, and it has become a leading player in the Fair Trade movement.
Café Direct is a UK-based Fair Trade coffee brand that sources its beans from small-scale farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The brand also offers tea and chocolate products.
Fair Trade USA is a non-profit organization that certifies Fair Trade products in the US. The organization works with companies to ensure that small-scale farmers and workers are paid fair prices and have safe working conditions.
Numi Organic Tea is a brand that offers organic and Fair Trade teas sourced from countries around the world. The brand is committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing practices.
Equal Exchange offers a wide range of organic coffee products that are Fair Trade certified. The brand sources its coffee beans from small-scale farmer cooperatives in countries like Peru, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia.
Equal Exchange offers a variety of organic and Fair Trade certified chocolate products, including dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate bars, and chocolate chips.
Equal Exchange offers a range of organic and Fair Trade certified tea products, including black tea, green tea, and herbal tea.
Equal Exchange offers a selection of organic and Fair Trade certified snacks, including nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate-covered fruit.
Fair Trade is a trading model that aims to promote more equitable and sustainable trading practices between developed and developing countries. It ensures that small-scale farmers and workers are paid fair prices for their products, and that they have safe working conditions. It also promotes environmental sustainability and community development.
Yes, Equal Exchange coffee is certified organic by the USDA. This means that the coffee is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
A worker-owned cooperative is a business model in which workers own a share of the company and have a say in its decision-making processes. In the case of Equal Exchange, the workers share in the company's profits and work together to achieve the brand's mission.
Equal Exchange works directly with small-scale farmer cooperatives, cutting out middlemen and ensuring that farmers receive a fair price for their products. The brand also offers pre-financing to help farmers with the costs of production, and it builds long-term relationships with its farmer partners.
Some of Equal Exchange's chocolate products are vegan, but not all. Check the product ingredients or contact the brand directly for more information.