The Birth of a Movement

                                                   
In recent years, the Fair Trade movement has united farmers, workers, traders and consumers with a message of fairness, equity and environmental stewardship in trade with producers in marginalized countries. Representing a convergence of co-operative, solidarity, and social justice movements, Fair Trade emphasizes ownership, empowerment and development for small-scale farmers, artisans and workers in the global South.

Increasingly, we can see that the challenges faced by rural communities are very similar around the world. As the movement for “Domestic Fair Trade” has gained momentum, our organizations have come together to contribute to a movement for fairness, equity and sustainability that supports family-scale farming, farmer-led initiatives such as farmer co-operatives, just conditions for farm workers, and the strengthening of the organic agriculture movement.

Our organizations seek to bring these efforts together with mission-based traders, retailers and consumers to contribute to the movement for a more equitable, diverse and sustainable agriculture in North America and around the world. By creating businesses committed to principles of fairness and equity and leading by example, we hope to create positive change in the mainstream marketplace by influencing the conduct of conventional corporations.

Mission and Vision Statement
(Approved by general membership December 7th, 2008)

MISSION STATEMENT
Promote and protect the integrity of Domestic Fair Trade Principles through education, marketing, advocacy and endorsements.

MISSION OBJECTIVES

The DFTA strengthens its members by:

* Improving the livelihoods of family farmers, farm workers, and other workers in the food, fiber and agricultural products industries from farm to table by promoting DFT through advocacy, endorsements and education;
*Supporting the rights of indigenous people to land, and indigenous and all peoples right to food sovereignty;
* Raising consumer awareness of Domestic Fair Trade principles, ethical business practices, and the benefits of DFT for rural and agricultural communities, and the importance of purchasing domestic fairly traded products;
* Supporting and promoting the fundamental human and labor rights of all peoples, including the right to  organize and bargain collectively;
* Developing and promoting sound criteria for DFT standards, with a goal of continual improvement, for the purpose of endorsing legitimate Social Justice market claims made by and for family-size farmers, farm workers, processors, marketers, retailers and their organizations;
* Developing and championing a common ethical code of conduct among marketers of DFT products with cooperative strategies to prevent and defend against greenwashing, fairwashing and any false or misleading claims;
* Cooperating with endorsed labelers to create synergies in inspection agencies, materials review, joint market strategies, policy, training, accreditation, certification, research and education;
* Promoting the inclusion of DFT principles in new sustainable labels;
* Strategically partnering with similar coalitions and organizations, such as other Fair Trade groups both domestically and internationally;
* Taking public policy positions;
* Encouraging communication and information exchange among producers, wholesalers, retailers, and other organizations, which empower stakeholders;
* Providing opportunities for collaboration, trade and exchange among members in order to create living economic chains and systems that exemplify the principles of Domestic Fair Trade; and
*Actively confronting and challenging systems of oppression, including racism, classism, and sexism, that divide and disempower people and reflecting this consciousness in the way we communicate and build relationships with one another.

***A goal of the DFTA is to work with stakeholders to define what the meaning of sustainable agriculture is. The definition of agriculture must include traditional means of procuring food and fiber.

Vision Statement

The food system functions like a healthy community where neighbors look after and support each other, everyone feels safe, and all contribute to a clean and harmonious environment. Family-scale and community-scale farms thrive. All participants in the food system understand the realities, challenges, and effects of food production and distribution and choose to support fair trade in every way they can.

Our vision includes a world where:

* Contributions of all workers and farmers are valued.
* Workers’ rights, human rights, and human dignity are affirmed and promoted.
* Fair Trade is synonymous with fair wages, fair prices and fair practices.
* Risks and rewards are equitable and shared, and this information is open and available to all stakeholders.
* Information will be readily available on where, how, and by whom every product is grown processed and distributed
* All practices from source to table are environmentally sustainable as well as economically just.
* Direct trade and long-term relationships dominate the food economy.
* Strong local communities are the foundation of society.
* Power is shared and development is grassroots driven and cooperative.
* Fairness is found in all relations from source to table.
*What a community eats is based squarely in the context of community building and social justice.
*Cultural rights are recognized and honored.