Domestic Fair Trade Association
Application for Membership—Retailer, Processor, Manufacturer, Distributer
Updated January 2015
Thank you for your interest in the Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA). Completed
applications can be sent to the DFTA Membership Committee c/o Colette Cosner 220 2nd
Ave South Unit #61 Seattle, WA 98104 or [email protected]. Feel free to contact Colette if
you have questions about the application or membership process at any time. You may also
find it helpful to refer to the DFTA website www.thedfta.org for more information on our
history, principles, and stakeholder group definitions.
The DFTA understands that the information provided may be of a sensitive nature and
therefore this application is for the internal use of the DFTA only and will remain
confidential.
Below you will find a self-assessment questionnaire with both general questions and
questions based on the Principles of Domestic Fair Trade. Following these questions is a
copy of the Principles to be signed by the appropriate person(s) in your organization
(owner, general manager, chair of the board, etc.) signifying a formal endorsement of these
principles. Additionally, please provide relevant marketing and educational materials,
product packaging and point of sale, and website and campaign information with your
application.
If your application is approved, the membership committee will follow up with a brief
phone interview.
Domestic Fair Trade Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Date of Application:
Organization:
Address:
Tel & Fax:
E-mail:
Web:
Contact Person(s):
Signature:
Type of Organization (see
“Types of Members” on DFTA
website or in Introduction to
DFTA document):
Choose one: Retailer or marketer/processor or
manufacturer
Products or Activities:
General Questions:
Briefly describe the purpose of your organization and your mission statement
Briefly describe the history of your organization and when it was founded.
Is your organization a member of another Fair Trade association, such as the Fair Trade
Federation or the International Fair Trade Association (please list below)?
If you are a membership organization, how many members do you have?
How many employees?
How is your organization different from conventional trading organizations?
What is the ownership structure of your business?
What was your annual revenue over last two years?
Dues are based on operating budget or revenue. Using the chart below, please calculate
your annual DFTA dues.
Sales or Operating Budget
Under $100,000
$100,001-1 million
$1 m +1 – 3 m
$3 +1 – 6m
$6m + 1 – 10m
$10 m +1 – 15m
Annual Dues
Budget or Revenue X .001
200
300
400
500
1,000
$15 m + 1 – 20 m
$20 m + 1 – 30 m
$30 m +1 – 50 m
$50 m + 1 – 100 m
$100 m +1 – 150 m
150 m – 700 m
Over 700 m
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
Revenue X .00001
Do you have any concerns about your ability to pay these dues annually? (Please note, we
rely on membership dues to meet our core budget, but do not wish to exclude committed
organizations based on an inability to pay; expressing concerns about annual dues does not
automatically exclude an organization from consideration.
Principles & Questions:
On the following pages are listed the Principles for Domestic Fair Trade. Please consider
each of the principles and respond to the questions that follow. For basic “yes” or “no”
questions, please place a “y” or “n” in the box to the right. For numerical answers, please
use the same box. When rating your compliance with each standard, use this system:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Not in compliance
Beginning to Address this Principle
Making Good Progress
Close to Full Compliance
Full Compliance
No organization is likely to be in full compliance with the principles, but should be
committed to making constant progress toward this goal. It is valuable for all of our
organizations to reflect on our relative success in achieving our mission, goals and ideals. It
is this spirit that applicants are asked to make an honest and transparent assessment of
their organization.
1. Family Farming
Fair Trade focuses on reinforcing the position of small and family-scale producers that have
been or are being marginalized by the mainstream marketplace as a means of preserving the
culture of farming and rural communities, promoting economic democracy, environmental
and humane stewardship and biodiversity, and ensuring a more healthy and sustainable
planet.
What percentage of your products is sourced from family or small-scale
producers?
Is promoting small and family scale producers an important part of your
mission or activities?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Additional comments:
2. Capacity Building for Producers & Workers
Fair Trade is a means of developing the producers and workers independence, strengthening
their ability to engage directly with the marketplace, and to gain more control over their
futures. The resources from trading relationships are directed toward this purpose in a
participatory manner by those who will benefit from them.
Do you support the economic development and empowerment of your
suppliers, members and/or employees?
Processors & Marketers & Manufacturers: Do you provide suppliers with
information on market trends or assist in product diversification?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Additional Comments:
3. Democratic, Participatory Ownership & Control
Fair Trade emphasizes co-operative organization as a means of empowering producers,
workers and consumers to gain more control over their economic and social lives. In
situations where such organization is absent, mechanisms will be created to ensure the
democratic participation of producers and workers, and the equitable distribution of the
fruits of trade.
Please describe any mechanisms for meaningful participation by members and/or
employees in the policies, governance and operation of the organization:
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Additional comments:
4. Rights of Labor
Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers and workers and
conforms to all International Labor Organizations (ILO) Conventions and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. The participation of children (if any) does not adversely affect
their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play and conforms to the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as pertinent local/regional laws. Fair Trade
ensures that there are mechanisms in place through which hired labor has an independent
voice and is included in the benefits of trade through mechanisms such as living wages, profitsharing, and cooperative workplace structures. Programs of apprenticeship are promoted to
develop the skills of the next generation of farmers, artisans and workers.
Has your organizations ever been cited for violation of labor laws?
Does your organization meet or exceed the requirements of labor law in its
policies?
Does your organization comply with ILO Conventions and the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights?
Is your workplace unionized or are there other mechanisms for employee
representation?
Does your organization have a policy or statement supporting the rights of
workers among your suppliers?
Rate overall compliance with this principles
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to the Rights of Labor, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or
activities:
Additional comments:
5. Equality & Opportunity
Fair Trade emphasizes the empowerment of women, minorities, indigenous peoples and other
marginalized members of society to represent their own interests, participate directly in trade
and to share in its economic benefits.
Does your organization have programs focused on enhancing the role of
women and those historically marginalized because of their race, ethnicity
or class?
Does your organization have an equal opportunity policy or statement?
Does your organization have a policy or statement prioritizing trade with
marginalized producers in the food system?
Rate overall compliance with this principles
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Equality & Opportunity, including in its mission statement, priorities, structure
and/or activities:
Additional comments:
6. Direct Trade
Where possible, Fair Trade attempts to reduce the intermediaries between the primary
producer and the consumer, delivering more of the benefits of such trade to the producer and
connecting consumers more directly with the source of their food and other products, and
with the people who produced them.
Does your organization educate buyers and consumers about your
primary suppliers
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Direct Trade, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or activities:
Additional comments:
7. Fair & Stable Pricing
A fair price is one that has been agreed upon through dialogue and participation. It covers not
only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally
sound. It provides fair pay to the producers, fair wages to laborers, and takes into account the
principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair Traders ensure prompt
payment and stable pricing that enables producers to plan for the future.
Does your organization offer fair wages and benefits for employees?
Does your organizations have a policy on pricing for primary suppliers? Are
your suppliers made aware of these policies?
Does your organization have a policy or statement on fair wages for your
employees?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Fair & Stable Pricing, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or
activities:
Additional comments:
8. Shared Risk & Affordable Credit
Farmers often bear the greatest risks of agriculture and an unstable marketplace. Fair
Traders work to share these risks among producers, processors, marketers and consumers
through more equitable trade partnerships, fair and prompt payment, transparent
relationships and affordable credit. In situations where access to credit is difficult, or the
terms of credit are not beneficial to producers, Fair Traders provide or facilitate access to
such credit, or assist producers in creating their own mechanisms for providing credit.
Do you have a policy for providing advance payment or credit for primary
suppliers? Are their other ways that you share risk with suppliers?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Shared Risk & Affordable Credit, including in its mission statement, priorities
and/or activities:
Additional comments:
9. Long-Term Trade Partnerships
Fair Trade fosters long-term trade partnerships at all levels within the production, processing
and marketing chain that provide producers with stability and opportunities to develop
marketing, production and quality skills, as well as access to new markets for their products.
Does your organization have a policy or statement regarding the
development of long-term partnerships with primary suppliers?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Long-Term Trade Partnerships, including in its mission statement, priorities
and/or activities:
Additional comments:
10. Sustainable Agriculture
Fair Trade emphasizes a holistic approach to agriculture, supporting sustainable agricultural
strategies such as Organic, Biodynamic, non-toxic Bio-intensive Integrated Pest Management,
farm diversification and small-scale farming that protect the environment, sustain farming
communities, and provide consumers with quality, healthy food. Fair Trade emphasizes the
biodiversity of traditional agriculture, supports the rights of farmers to their own seed, and
preserves cultural diversity.
Do you have a policy or statement regarding the promotion of sustainable
farming practices among your suppliers, including organic, biodynamic,
advanced IPM and/or other ecological standards as well as the support of
local, regional and domestic farmers? Please include your working definition
of local and regional below.
What percentage of your products are organic, biodynamic, advanced IPM
and/or reflect other ecological standards? (Please specify the percentage for
each below and give an explanation for how you calculated.)
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Sustainable Agriculture, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or
activities:
Additional comments:
11. Appropriate Technology
Fair Trade supports the use of appropriate technologies that are openly and freely shared in
the public domain, and excludes plants, animals and biological processes that have been
genetically engineered or modified. Such technologies support the viability of small-scale
agriculture, respect cultural traditions, protect regional ecological integrity, and advance the
rights of workers.
Does your organization have a policy or statement prohibiting use of GMOs
and other patented crops?
Does your organization promote open-pollinated, traditional and heirloom
foods.
Does your organization have a policy or statement promoting the use of
appropriate technology internally and among its suppliers?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Appropriate Technology, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or
activities:
Additional comments:
12. Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Fair Trade supports indigenous peoples’ rights to land for cultivation, to freely exchange seeds
and to retain rights to their germplasm. These rights are congruent with the Convention on
Biological Diversity. We fully support food sovereignty, the right of peoples to define their own
food, agriculture, livestock and fisheries systems.
Does your organization endorse the concept of food sovereignty?
Does your organization have a policy or statement prioritizing trade with
indigenous producers?
Does your organization make an effort not to buy indigenous products that
have been patented by corporations?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or
activities:
Additional comments:
13. Transparency & Accountability
The Fair Trade system depends on transparency of costs, pricing and structures at all levels of
the trading system. Fair Traders are accountable to each other and the wider community by
openly sharing such information..
Are suppliers, employees, members and customers aware of the
organization’s mission and goals?
Does your organization report to its members and stakeholders on its
financial, trading and advocacy activities?
Does your organization produce an annual report that is available to the
public and other stakeholders?
Do you have a record of suppliers that is available upon request?
Rate overall compliance with the principles
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Transparency & Accountability, including in its mission statement, priorities
and/or activities:
Additional comments:
14. Education & Advocacy
Fair Trade emphasizes education at all levels of the agricultural chain, engaging farmers,
workers, traders and consumers in advocating for a more equitable, democratic and
sustainable economy. Fair Traders in particular educate consumers about the inequities of
the trading system and the need for alternatives, while sharing information with producers
about the marketplace. Education strengthens the Fair Trade movement and empowers its
stakeholders in creating a better world for everyone.
Does your organization carry out specific campaigns to promote Fair Trade?
Does your organization engage in campaigns to influence public policy with
regard to Fair Trade, social justice and sustainable agriculture?
Does your organization educate buyers, members, consumers and policy
makers about the food system?
Rate overall compliance with the principle
Please describe some of the ways that your organization expresses its commitment
to Education & Advocacy, including in its mission statement, priorities and/or
activities:
Additional comments:
PRINCIPLES FOR DOMESTIC FAIR TRADE
Domestic Fair Trade Association
For Health, Justice & Sustainability
This declaration is our attempt to translate the principles of international Fair Trade, as expressed by organizations
such as the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) and the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), into the regional and
local economic spheres. Our primary goals are to support family-scale farming, to reinforce farmer-led initiatives such
as farmer co-operatives, to ensure just conditions for those who work in agriculture, to strengthen the organic
farming movement, and bring these efforts together with mission-based traders, retailers, and concerned consumers
to contribute to the movement for a more equitable, diverse and sustainable agriculture in North America. It is our
hope that we may help create a more holistic model of commerce that is consistent with the basic values of the
international Fair Trade movement, and builds on the values of the organic and sustainable agricultural movements.
The principles we present below are not specific standards, but rather represent the values that underlie and guide
our work together as organizations and individuals united for the promotion of “Health, Justice and Sustainability”:

Family Scale Farming

Capacity Building for Producers and Workers

Democratic, Participatory Ownership & Control

Rights of Labor

Equality and Opportunity

Direct Trade

Fair & Stable Pricing.

Shared Risk & Affordable Credit

Long-Term Trade Relationships

Sustainable Agriculture

Appropriate Technology

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

Transparency & Accountability

Education & Advocacy
Our organization is committed to the above principles and to working with the Domestic Fair Trade
Association in advancing the cause of Fair Trade, sustainable agriculture and social justice in the global,
regional and local food systems. In keeping with this commitment, we endeavor to put these principles
into practice throughout our organization and its activities.
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