Socially Responsible Food Is On the Rise in the U.S., New Report Says

New data released by Fair Trade USA reveals a significant growth in socially responsible food. The biggest third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S. said that data for its fresh produce program shows strong growth across nearly every source country and product, which translates into more than 71.5 million pounds of Fair Trade Certified fresh fruit and vegetables imported in 2011, or a 40 percent increase over 2010.

But Americans are not only going bananas over Fair Trade fresh produce. New additions such as watermelons, bell peppers, cantaloupes, tomatoes and others have made it into the Fair Trade Certified produce mix.

"There's a lot of momentum right now as retailers start to see positive sales data and ask more of their growers to get Fair Trade Certified," said Hannah Freeman, Director of Produce and Floral for Fair Trade USA. "They see Fair Trade as a way to invest in the sustainability of their supply chain while giving consumers the traceability they increasingly seek when purchasing fresh produce. It's like a farmers market gone global."
The organization anticipates that 2012 will be a success story, since over 55 million pounds of Fair Trade Certified produce were imported in the first half of the year, which is more than in 2010.

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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.