Fair Trade Rice

We all love the gentle, nutty aroma of a plate of Jasmine  or Basmati  rice.  Now you can enjoy quality varieties of rice and ensure that the small-scale farmers of these exotic rices are receiving proper payment for their goods. Most white and brown rices consumed in the US are produced domestically.  The sweet, aromatic varieties of rice, which are becoming more and more popular in the states, are produced in Thailand, India, and Pakistan.  These producers are vulnerable to exploitation and middle merchants, so they frequently earn far less than they need to support their families. When this happens, farmers have to find a different form of work.  In Thailand, where 75 percent of America's imported rice comes from, many of the farmers are stuck with debt three times their annual income.  Fair Trade was created to alleviate this problem.

Fair Trade Standards

Fair Trade is a social movement and a market based approach towards helping producers reach sustainability.  By advocating a higher payment to growers of goods, they help workers gain self-sufficiency and give them a higher stake in the products. There are two fair trade standards, for small farms and hired labor situations:

• In small farming situations, there must be democratic decision making among the workers.  All producers must have a say in how Fair Trade Premiums are invested.
• In hired labor situations, workers must be payed what is regionally referred to as decent wages, and all health and safety standards must be met.  Child labor is prohibited.
• Fair Trade also encourages environmentally friendly, sustainable production.  Half of Fair Trade rice  is certified organic already.  Organic farming is held to strict pesticide standards, which reduces chemical runoff, helps biodiversity and community health.

View TransFair USA's complete list of Fair Trade Certified Rice licensees. 

Alter Eco Fair Trade Rice  is one of a few brands in the relatively young, Fair Trade rice market.  Their colorful and exotic rice varieties are cultivated using traditional Thai methods that ensure quality and environmental safety.  Alter Eco Fair Trade varieties include, coral red,  ruby red,  purple,  and Thai white  jasmine rice.

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