What is the difference between Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certification?
Both TransFair USA and Rainforest Alliance are international, mission-driven organizations that share common goals of promoting sustainable livelihoods for producers, environmental conservation, and economic viability. TransFair certifies coffee and cocoa, fresh fruit, tea and herbs, rice, sugar, flowers, honey and vanilla. Rainforest Alliance certifies coffee, cocoa, and bananas as well as citrus, flowers and timber. The two models vary in emphasis and approach. Fair Trade Certification is the only certification system that provides an economic benefit to producers in the form of a guaranteed minimum price and a social premium for community investment. Fair Trade provides economic incentives for farmers to improve the quality of their production, protect the environment, and reinvest in their farms. Fair Trade social premiums fund projects like scholarship funds, organic certification, and low-interest loan programs. In addition, Fair Trade provides farmers with access to pre-harvest
