Fair Trade USA appoints Ricardo Crisantes chairman
Fair Trade USA, Oakland, Calif., the leading certifier of fair trade products in North America welcomes Ricardo Crisantes as Chair of the Board of Directors.
His appointment reflects the organization’s commitment to elevating the voice and serving the needs of farmers and workers, especially as they grapple with ongoing hardships and rapidly changing market demands during COVID-19.
Crisantes has served on the Fair Trade USA board for over three years. Notably, this is the first time in the organization’s 22-year history that it has elected a grower as Chair.
He is a respected leader in the U.S. produce industry, bringing more than 20 years of experience in sustainable, organic agriculture. Currently, Crisantes is the Chief Commercial Officer and thirdgeneration co-owner of Wholesum, a family-owned grower and pioneer of organic produce in Mexico. In this role, he spearheaded equitable labor initiatives, including the implementation of Fair Trade Certification across all of Wholesum’s farms in both Mexico and the U.S.
“I feel deep responsibility to the millions of farmers and workers around the world who are struggling to earn a decent living for themselves and their families,” Crisantes said. “Fair trade is one of the most credible and effective certification models on the market that helps farmers improve their lives and develop their communities more sustainably. I’ve seen its powerful impact first-hand on our family’s farms and I’m honored to step into this role to support the movement further.”
Since 1998, farmers, workers and their families have earned more than $740 million in additional economic benefit through their sales of Fair Trade Certified products to the U.S. market, enabling extraordinary improvements in water, health, education, housing, gender equity and environmental protection. This impact is enabled by the everyday purchasing decisions of millions of U.S. shoppers, 63% of whom now recognize the Fair Trade Certified seal.
James D. White, the Chair of the Board since March 2018, will continue to serve as a member of Fair Trade USA’s Board of Directors. White, a seasoned business executive, is a passionate champion for diversity and inclusion. James has been recognized with numerous awards including the American Heart Association Corporate Citizen Award in 2014 and Junior Achievement’s Northern California Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. In 2010, the San Francisco Business Times named him the Bay Area’s Most Admired CEO. Fair Trade USA is deeply grateful for James’ visionary leadership and looks forward to his continued contributions.
Crisantes holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He has served on Fair Trade USA’s Board of Directors since March 2017 and also serves as a board member of the Kino Border Initiative. He currently lives with his family in Nogales, Ariz.
