Fair Trade USA™’s Evolving Approach to Standards & Certification: How our Agricultural Standards Revision is Driving Change

Authored by Sugumar Raman, Chief Program Officer and Debora Rosado, Director of Standards and Implementation Resources

Supply chains are changing. We’re seeing more disruption than ever before. Shifting populations, the climate emergency, conflict, policy change, and more are driving volatile pricing across the globe. This is increasing the cost of production and threatening livelihoods. At Fair Trade USA™, we’re more focused than ever on future-proofing our model and creating a system that puts producers’ evolving needs first: uplifting the communities that put food in our pantries, clothes on our bodies, and who are producing the essential goods that we rely on. 

Fair Trade USA has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a certification program can achieve. Building strong, sustainable supply chains that benefit and protect farmers and workers has always been our top priority. That’s why we update our Agricultural Production Standards (APS) periodically, according to best practices set forth by ISEAL. This time around, we’re taking a bolder step forward, looking at our program with a fresh set of eyes and a stronger commitment to real-world outcomes. 

For years, our certification model has been a cornerstone of our work, relying on a robust and straightforward compliance approach: we establish the standard, guide their implementation and ensure adherence through regular audits. Fair Trade USA has helped shape this approach, and we’re proud of the impact that it’s unlocked for producers around the world. Now, we’re leading a shift toward a model that goes beyond compliance, addressing today’s realities while focusing on producer leadership and outcomes.  

What are we doing differently?  

Our program and approach isn’t just evolving, it’s undergoing a dynamic transformation. The updated Agricultural Production Standard will offer more flexibility and enablement to producers that focus on real, lived experiences and the shifting circumstances that they face. It will also move from pure compliance and check-list requirements into an assurance model that enables positive outcomes, helping unlock more insights and intelligence which will help bolster and address core needs. This flexibility will help build stronger partnerships and a more resilient future that centers producer-led solutions.  

Key Innovations of APS 2.0 include:  

• Tailored Approach: Moving beyond one-size-fits-all, the new standard adapts to the diverse realities of agricultural communities. 
• Outcome-focused Impact: We’re focusing on tangible results and real-world application driven by real-time data and insights. 
• Inter-Operable: In order to reduce complexity and cost burden of producers who are typically multi-certified, our standards will become more inter-operable, and be able to recognize and accept requirements that have already been met through other programs. 
• Updated data tracking and reporting: Standards align with industry-recognized metrics, such as Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), ensuring producer data speaks the same language as other sustainability initiatives for seamless collaboration.  
• Simplicity, Clarity and Precision: We are committed to delivering clear expectations through simplified language and targeted requirements. 
• Regenerative Agriculture & Producer Leadership: Standards will continue to recognize and uplift the unique expertise of producers in leading climate solutions, while upholding our strong standards on regenerative agriculture and nature-positive practices. 

Launching the New Standard 

Our label has driven change for almost three decades. Updating our model for our changing world has always been part of our mission, and part of what makes Fair Trade USA agile, resilient, and powerful. We’re excited to launch this revised standard that builds on past success while embracing the future.

As we prepare to launch APS 2.0, we invite you to help shape the future of fair trade. Your feedback helps uphold the Fair Trade legacy of transparency, accountability, and strong standards that make lasting change. We will be opening the APS 2.0 for public comment in the coming months, so please stay tuned for opportunities to share your valuable thoughts and insights.