Public Statement of Farmworker Conference for Fair Trade

On April 28th and 29th, 2007, a group of 37 participants involved in agriculture, including agricultural workers and their respective organizations representing regions throughout the United States, joined together in order to establish Social Justice Standards for a Domestic Fair Trade label.

We proposed to do the Following:

• Articulate the principles of fair working conditions on the farm
• Decide the scope and shape of farmworker participation in the domestic fair trade movement.
• Attempt to reach consensus on principles, but record both our agreements and disagreements, reporting back to both the farmworker and domestic fair trade movements. We see this conference as a part of an ongoing effort towards empowerment and social justice

We reached consensus on the following points:

• Agricultural workers and their representative organizations need to have equal representation, voices and participation in the elaboration of the Domestic Fair Trade label – for example: the development of the standards, governance, the implementation of standards and monitoring of participating farms, among other things.
• Fair wages are an indispensable requirement in the certification of Domestic Fair Trade.
• The right to organize without retaliation must be guaranteed to all workers.

Conference participants engaged in a deep discussion about pesticide exposure being one of the most serious dangers confronted by agricultural workers and consumers alike. Organic production combined with a just relationship between agricultural workers and farmers represents the most positive path to a just food system.

As a result of this conference, our group is committed to moving forward in the creation and implementation of a Domestic Fair Trade label.