Who is Fair Trade LA?

 

Our Vision

Fair Trade LA will establish the widespread sales of Fair Trade products as a viable and ethical choice for improving the lives of global farmers and artisans while enriching the lives of local consumers with quality and sustainable products. 

Our Mission

Fair Trade LA educates and inspires consumers to embrace Fair Trade products so global farmers and artisans have the opportunity to earn a fair and sustainable living.

Our History

Fair Trade LA began in 2005 with five dedicated individuals who gathered to discuss ways to broaden and deepen the awareness of Fair Trade in Los Angeles and surrounding communities. Their dream was that consumers would come to understand and value how a new way of thinking and acting can directly improve the lives of farmers, workers, and artisans around the world. It seems that their instincts were right, and FTLA’s subsequent efforts are producing great fruit.

Over these years Fair Trade LA has successfully established Fair Trade cities, including Pasadena and Claremont, and more are in the works. One of those three is Los Angeles. We have taken the ambitious leap to make LA the largest Fair Trade city in the U.S. We have Fair Trade colleges/universities, including Pomona, Loyola Marymount, UCLA and Cal Lutheran. Others have followed the lead and began their launch. We have Fair Trade congregations, high schools, and elementary schools.  We remain committed to ensuring that the Fair Trade movement spreads as deeply and as widely as possible, joining with the efforts of those involved throughout the United States and internationally.