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Who is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions, and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in countries of origin. Fairtrade’s approach enables farmers and workers to have more control over their lives and decide how to invest in their future.

As a leader in the global movement to make trade fair, Fairtrade supports and challenges businesses and governments to do better and connects people with the farmers and workers who produce their goods.

Fairtrade Canada is the Canadian chapter of Fairtrade International, the global leader in fair trade standards with more than three decades of experience working for more equitable trading practices in over 100 countries.

How Fairtrade works

Fairtrade is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow and create the things we love. It’s all about making trade fair.

Fairtrade changes lives by changing trade. We transfer wealth back to farmers and workers in countries disadvantaged by unfair global trade structures who deserve a decent income and decent work. We are the leading independent global movement for trade justice, and we are still the most recognized and trusted sustainable trading standard in many leading markets.

What makes Fairtrade unique?

There are many reasons Fairtrade stands out among certification labels. Here are a few.

50% Producer-owned

Fairtrade is 50 percent owned by farmers and workers themselves, giving them an equal say in the system’s decision-making

Fairtrade Minimum Price

Fairtrade offers price stability through a Minimum Price for most commodities

Fairtrade Premium

Fairtrade offers some of the highest Premiums in the industry for producers to invest in their businesses and communities

Producer support

Fairtrade licensing fees support direct services to producers, from improving agricultural practices to better business management

Advocacy to tackle challenges

Fairtrade advocates with governments and partners with businesses to tackle global challenges and increase commitments to sustainable production and consumption

Globally known, globally trusted

The FAIRTRADE Mark is the most widely recognized ethical certification label globally

Meet our CEO

As CEO of Fairtrade Canada, Julie Francoeur ensures her team can thrive so that Fairtrade can thrive. Having been with Fairtrade for more than 13 years, running field operations for Fairtrade International working from the ground up with farmer coops, brands, traders, millers, factories, unions, governments, and more in 13 different countries, it feels as if it is part of her core identity.

Julie felt a calling for social justice at a young age – her school yearbook says she is the most likely to do a presentation on child labour. She has lived and worked abroad in Ghana, Bolivia, the Caribbean, and Argentina touching on everything from responsible cotton imports to closed-loop municipal waste management. She knows from hands-on experience that sustainable supply chains and empowering farmers and workers is messy, hard work that often fails. But she has also seen success and is adamant to help others scale-up that impact.

She has an MBA in Emerging Markets, a BA in International Development, and a Diploma in African Rural Development.

In addition to her role as CEO, Julie is on the Global Fairtrade Executive Team. She has also been a guest lecturer at York University, Dalhousie University, Schulich Business School, and McGill University.

Connect with Julie