Fair trade visionary Paul Rice headlines GOPEX 2023 conference

Browsing the grocery aisles, consumers are increasingly looking for products that are not only delicious and healthy, but also products they believe are responsibly sourced and improve the health of the planet.

One clear sign of this enduring trend is that consumer demand for organically produced goods has climbed steadily since the 1990s, with no signs of stopping. At the top of the category sits fresh produce, the highest performers of all organically grown food products in the grocery store, according to the USDA.

Organic fruits and vegetables accounted for 39% of U.S. organic food sales in 2020, according to a Nutrition Business Journal report. What’s more, the category continues to command a price premium to meet increasing demand, despite inflation and pricing challenges experienced in other categories.

Learn more about the Global Organic Produce Expo

With 88% of organic sales made in conventional and natural food supermarkets and chains, according to the Organic Trade Association, the time is ripe to pose the question, "How does the fresh produce industry deepen its connection with consumers seeking products that are organically and responsibly sourced in the produce aisle?"

Founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA Paul Rice will share the opportunities he sees for the organic produce industry in 2023 and where he believes buyers and producers alike can level up and strengthen their connection with conscious consumers. Rice will deliver his keynote, “Emerging Opportunities for the Produce Industry,” with his distinctive charisma and inspirational call to action on Jan. 31 at 9:45 a.m. EST at the Global Organic Produce Expo 2023.

Visionary leader and Fair Trade advocate

Paul Rice has a long history building fair trade and sustainable agriculture supply chains, giving him deep, firsthand knowledge of where the industry has grown and the challenges that lie ahead.

Rice launched Fair Trade USA’s Fair Trade Certified label in 1998, after working 11 years as a rural development specialist in the mountains of Nicaragua. Since establishing Nicaragua’s first fair trade organic expert cooperative, Rice has been a tireless advocate of the power of ethical impact sourcing to build sustainable businesses and alleviate poverty globally.

Read related: What to do and see at GOPEX ’23

Over Rice’s 30-year career promoting sustainable agriculture and economic development solutions, Rice has helped establish fair trade as an up-and-coming segment of the food industry. He has won numerous awards for his visionary leadership, which include:

• Ethical Corporation’s 2019 Business Leader of the Year.

• Social Capitalist of the Year by Fast Company magazine.

• Skool Award for Social Entrepreneurship.

Under Rice’s leadership, Fair Trade USA has partnered with over 1,500 companies, such as Green Mountain, Nespresso, Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger and Target. Fair Trade USA has expanded beyond fresh produce, now certifying a wide range of products ranging from coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, coconut, dairy and fish.

Industry perspectives: Hear what excites three GOPEX participants about the 2023 event