Choose fair trade tea

By Shomik Ghosh | April 05, 2012

Fair Trade Certified tea allows you to support the economic and social livelihoods of farmers in developing agricultural communities, many of whom rely on sustainable, eco-friendly farming methods. Organic tea is grown sustainably, without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, which is not only better for the earth, but better for your body.

What to look for when choosing fair trade and organic tea

Look for the USDA Certified Organic seal: When tea is certified organic, it will display a "Certified Organic" label on the packaging. This label means that the tea has been grown under criteria established by The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Due to a lack of regulation, without verification from the USDA or another third party, companies can claim that their product is organic while still containing conventionally grown tea.
Seek out the Fair Trade Certified logo: In the US, Fair Trade Certified tea is marketed under strict guidelines set forth by TransFair USA. This nonprofit organization monitors fair trade practices in developing agricultural communities in Asia, Latin America, and Africa under the umbrella association Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO).

Find it! Fair trade and organic tea

Seeking out the fair trade certification label is a good way to enjoy the best of both worlds: nearly 100 percent of Fair Trade Certified tea sold in the United States is also certified as organic.[1] Of course, if you're unsure about the organic status of your Fair Trade Certified tea (or vice versa), ask your seller or look for both certification labels on the packaging. In addition to GY's list below, TransFair USA offers comprehensive listings of national and regional stores that offer Fair Trade Certified tea and licensed Fair Trade Certified tea importers.

Choosing fair trade and organic tea helps you go green because…

It promotes ecologically sound, small-scale farming practices that do not use dangerous chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
It supports the economic and social welfare of small producers in developing agricultural communities that do not have the financial means to afford chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Glossary

carbon sequestration: The process by which carbon is captured (in the form of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere and incorporated into soil, ocean, and plant matter.
genetically modified organism: The result of merging the genetic make-up of two organisms to create a desired byproduct that could otherwise not be found in nature.
genetically modified organism: The result of merging the genetic make-up of two organisms to create a desired byproduct that could otherwise not be found in nature.