Transfair Usa

What Transfair Usa does

Fair Trade USA, legally Transfair USA, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 and headquartered in Oakland, California. It is a third-party fair trade certifier that sets standards and audits producers, brands, and retailers across global supply chains, issuing the Fair Trade Certified label for products meeting its sustainability criteria. The organization operates four certification standards frameworks: the Agricultural Production Standard (APS) for farms and crops, the Capture Fisheries Standard (CFS) for wild-caught seafood, the Factory Production Standard (FPS) for apparel and home goods, and the Trade Standard for supply chain intermediaries. Supporting infrastructure includes the Partner Portal platform for transaction reporting and compliance management, the Fair Trade Academy for producer training, the Needs Assessment toolkit for community development planning, and the Price & Premium Search database.

The business model combines three revenue streams: brand and trader licensing fees for use of the Fair Trade Certified label, producer certification fees for audits and compliance, and philanthropic grants and donations (notably from the Walmart Foundation and Packard Foundation). Pricing is custom by product category, supply chain complexity, and facility size, with a 1% of FOB sales minimum Premium rate for Factory Certificate Holders. Go-to-market is partnership-led across three primary customer segments (Brands, Retailers, Producers) with distribution through major retailers including Amazon, Kroger, Sam's Club, and Target, plus the Shop Fair Trade consumer marketplace. The organization holds ISEAL membership and operates mutual recognition with FLO-CERT for international fair trade credentials.

Name

Transfair Usa

Legal name

Transfair USA

Website

https://fairtradecertified.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit third-party certifier issuing the Fair Trade Certified label across agricultural, seafood, and factory supply chains, serving brands, retailers, and producers globally with licensing, auditing, and community development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Certification Services

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services (AFALAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL), Organic & Natural Foods Import/Export & Global Trading (AFAIAJAK)

Keywords

• Fair trade certification
• Sustainable sourcing standards
• Supply chain verification
• Ethical sourcing programs
• Third-party certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Brand and Trader Licensing: Fair Trade USA generates revenue through licensing fees charged to brands and retailers for the right to use the Fair Trade Certified label on their products. Fees vary based on product category, supply chain complexity, facility size, and certification scope, including application, audit, certification, and licensing costs.
2. Producer Certification Fees: Fees charged to producers (farms, fisheries, factories) for certification services under the Fair Trade standards. Certification involves passing annual audits to maintain compliance.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Support: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Fair Trade USA accepts donations from philanthropic supporters. The organization has received grants from the Walmart Foundation and Packard Foundation for specific program initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit third-party certifier that sets fair trade standards and certifies producers, brands, and traders across global supply chains. Its core offering is the Fair Trade Certified™ label, granted to products and operations that meet its standards (APS, CFS, FPS, Trade Standard), with additional fee-based services including certification audits, brand/trader licensing, and the Partner Portal for transaction and compliance management.

Product overview

Fair Trade USA operates a platform-plus-standards model centered on the Fair Trade Certified™ sourcing program. The core offering is third-party certification against multiple standards frameworks: Agricultural Production Standard (APS) for farms and crops, Capture Fisheries Standard (CFS) for wild-caught seafood, Factory Production Standard (FPS) for factory workers, and Trade Standard for supply chain traders. These certification programs are supported by the Partner Portal platform for transaction reporting and compliance management, the Needs Assessment tool for community development planning, and a Price & Premium Search database. The Community Development Funds mechanism channels Fair Trade Premium payments back to producer communities. Together, these products create an integrated sustainable sourcing ecosystem spanning agricultural, seafood, and factory production across global supply chains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fair Trade Certified™ Sourcing Program Core certification program and label awarded to products and operations meeting Fair Trade USA standards. Designed for brands, retailers, and producers operating in agricultural, seafood, apparel, home goods, personal care, and consumer goods supply chains.
• Agricultural Production Standard (APS) Certification standard for agricultural producers covering farms and crops including coffee, produce, fruits, and other agricultural commodities. Currently at version 1.2 with a major revision in progress open for public consultation until June 21, 2026.
• Capture Fisheries Standard (CFS) 2.0.0 Certification standard for wild-caught fisheries globally. Version 2.0.0 applies to all wild-caught fisheries worldwide, covering seafood species including tuna, salmon, shrimp, and other marine products.
• Factory Production Standard (FPS) 2.0.0 Certification standard for factory workers producing apparel, home goods, and non-edible consumer products. Version 2.0.0 went into effect January 1, 2023, and was renamed from 'Factory Standard for Apparel and Home Goods' to reflect broader geographic and industry applicability.
• Trade Standard v2.1 Certification standard for traders and importers handling Fair Trade Certified products throughout supply chains. Currently at version 2.1.
• Brand and Trader Licensing Licensing program granting brands and traders the right to use the Fair Trade Certified label on certified products, with fees varying by product category, supply chain complexity, facility size, and certification scope.
• Producer Certification Certification service for farmers, fishers, and factories that involves annual audits and ongoing compliance to maintain Fair Trade certification status.
• Partner Portal Online platform at partner.fairtradecertified.org where certified partners manage product registration, transaction reporting, supply chain compliance, and certification documentation.
• Price & Premium Search Database Searchable database providing Fair Trade Minimum Prices and Premiums for all products certified under Agricultural Production Standard and Capture Fisheries Standard, including coffee, cocoa, seafood, produce, and other commodities.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,500 trailblazing partners have transformed their business with Fair Trade Certified
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• FLO-CERTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair Trade USA honors most FLO-CERT certifications, recognizing that producers have worked hard to achieve these certificates. This partnership enables producers certified through the international Fair Trade system to seamlessly obtain Fair Trade USA certification.
• ISEALcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair Trade USA is a member of ISEAL and regularly reviews its standards at five-year intervals as required by ISEAL. ISEAL is the global membership organization for sustainability standards.
• Lake Champlain ChocolatesminorOthersChocolate company using Fair Trade Certified ingredients, featured as a brand partner on the Fair Trade USA website.
• Driscoll'smajorOthersMajor berry producer that partnered with Fair Trade USA for supply chain verification and certification, implementing Fair Trade standards across their operations.
• Wholesome SweetenersminorOthersSweetener company using Fair Trade Certified sugar and other ingredients, featured as a brand partner.
• PactminorOthersApparel company committed to Fair Trade Certified factories and ethical production practices.
• AmazonmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retailer offering Fair Trade Certified products through their platform, featured as a retailer partner.
• KrogermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor grocery retailer offering Fair Trade Certified products through their Simple Truth brand.
• Sam's ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWarehouse retailer offering Fair Trade Certified products.
• TargetmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail chain offering Fair Trade Certified products across their stores and website.
• FlorecalminorOthersFlower producer certified under Fair Trade standards, featured as a producer partner.
• GoiasaminorOthersBrazilian producer organization certified under Fair Trade standards.
• Pratibha SyntexminorOthersTextile and garment producer committed to Fair Trade certification.
• Wholesum HarvestminorOthersFamily farm network producing Fair Trade Certified vegetables, with leadership publicly endorsing the certification model.
• Equator CoffeesminorOthersCoffee company and B-Corp that has been a Fair Trade Certified partner, with CEO Helen Russell publicly supporting the certification.
• Eco LipsminorOthersPersonal care company producing Fair Trade Certified lip balm, with Co-Founder/CEO Steve Shriver endorsing the certification.
• NumimajorOthersOrganic tea company and B-Corp that has partnered with Fair Trade USA for over 15 years as a leading purchaser of organic Fair Trade teas.
• Campos BorquezminorOthersProduce company that has partnered with Fair Trade USA for almost 10 years, using certification to scale their sustainable mission.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): Leading processing standard for organic textiles covering the entire supply chain from harvest to finished garment. Directly competes with Fair Trade USA's Factory Production Standard in apparel and home goods certification for brand sourcing budgets.
• Rainforest Alliance: Major global sustainability certification organization (now incorporating the former UTZ program) certifying coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, and other tropical commodities. Directly competes with Fair Trade USA for ethical sourcing certifications across overlapping categories and brand relationships.
• Fairtrade International / FLO-CERT: The international Fair Trade system with which Fair Trade USA has a mutual recognition arrangement. Directly competes for the same producers, brands, and retailer licenses worldwide, particularly in Europe and among multinationals seeking a globally recognized fair trade label.
• B Lab (B Corporation): Certifies companies on social and environmental performance, with several Fair Trade USA partners (e.g., Numi, Equator Coffees) holding dual B Corp + Fair Trade Certified status. Competes for the same purpose-driven brand and retailer wallet on ethical sourcing claims.

Broad incumbents

• Fair Trade Federation: North American trade association of Fair Trade organizations, screening retailers and importers against fair trade principles. Overlaps with Fair Trade USA's mission of expanding fair trade in the US market and engages overlapping brands and retailers.
• GLOBALG.A.P. Global food and agricultural certification standard covering Good Agricultural Practices across crops, aquaculture, and livestock. Overlaps with Fair Trade USA's Agricultural Production Standard and competes for producer certification budgets in the same supply chains.
• Sedex: Global membership platform for supply chain ethics and sustainability data, including SMETA audits. Competes for the same brand/retailer procurement budgets on ethical sourcing compliance, particularly in apparel and consumer goods supply chains where Fair Trade USA's Factory Production Standard also operates.
• SCS Global Services: Third-party certification body providing sustainability, food safety, and ethical sourcing certifications across multiple categories. Provides parallel third-party verification services for many of the same producers and brands that work with Fair Trade USA.

Emerging players

• Earthworm Foundation: Nonprofit focused on responsible supply chains across forestry, cocoa, and tropical commodities. Provides supply chain due diligence and producer support services that overlap with Fair Trade USA's agriculture and trade standards.
• FairWild: Sustainability certification for wild-collected ingredients used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Operates in adjacent wild-harvested product categories where Fair Trade USA's Capture Fisheries Standard also provides certification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FairTradeCert
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/fairtradeusa/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/fairtradecertified
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fair-trade-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/fairtradecertified

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transfair Usa