Fair Trade USA says it is offering solutions to producers and retailers seeking ways to improve environmental and human rights conditions in the avocado sector.
The organization said Western demand for avocados has grown exponentially over the last decade, and people and the planet are paying the price. Forced to keep pace with what farmers call the “avocado gold rush,” negative environmental impacts are rampant in many avocado farming regions — for communities as well as production, according to a news release.
An estimated one-third of all avocado farms in Mexico are reported to be illegal farms, and up to 70,000 acres in Michoacán and neighboring state of Jalisco have been deforested for avocado farming in the last decade, the release said. Fair Trade USA said water reservoirs are being illegally emptied to support farming, and farmers who speak out against deforestation and working conditions are often at risk.
Fair Trade USA said farms, distributors and retailers are looking to it to improve working conditions and protect critical biodiversity in avocado regions.
The organization has been a partner in supply chain sustainability since opening its doors in 1998, working to create transformative social, environmental and economic impact for communities around the world, according to the release. To do this, Fair Trade USA says it helps amplify the voices of workers to understand and address their unique needs.
Fair Trade USA’s Agricultural Production Standard mandates that there is no deforestation or degradation of natural forests and that impacts on protected areas, forests and waterways are minimized. These requirements are why so many companies, including avocado distributors, turn to Fair Trade USA for partnership in building sustainable supply chains, the release said.
“Fair Trade USA exists to partner with farms, workers, retailers and brands to create safe and fair working conditions and protect the environment,” said Felipe Arango, interim CEO for Fair Trade USA. “Strong standards are needed to better the avocado industry, and we are excited to partner with producers to certify more farms and improve the lives of farmers.”
Fair Trade USA said it has worked closely with brands and distributors, including Whole Foods Market, to get more certified avocados onto the shelves. Most recently, Grupo Aguacatero los Cerritos joined the movement as the newest Fair Trade Certified avocado operation, with their avocados available through new Fair Trade USA partner GLC Cerritos and others. The organization says these partnerships are an important step in addressing the deforestation issue and serve as a model for others in the industry.
“When you see the Fair Trade Certified logo on produce, you know that you have found a product that is adhering to rigorous standards and that those standards are transforming the lives of real people around the globe,” Fair Trade USA said in the release.
Fair Trade USA’s leadership and produce teams will greet their partners as well as anyone interested in learning more at the Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta, set for Oct. 17-19. The organization will co-host an event with GLC Cerritos, where both teams will showcase initiatives that promote sustainability and responsible trade, the release said.
Fair Trade USA will be at booth No. C2526 during the IFPA show.
