Transfair Usa
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Transfair Usa firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Transfair Usa industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Transfair Usa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Transfair Usa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Factory Production Standard certification with 1% minimum premium rate |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom certification pricing based on scope and complexity |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels12 records
Transfair Usa product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Transfair Usa
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Transfair Usa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Transfair Usa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- FLO-CERTcoreFair 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.
- ISEALcoreFair 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 ChocolatesminorChocolate company using Fair Trade Certified ingredients, featured as a brand partner on the Fair Trade USA website.
- Driscoll'smajorMajor berry producer that partnered with Fair Trade USA for supply chain verification and certification, implementing Fair Trade standards across their operations.
- Wholesome SweetenersminorSweetener company using Fair Trade Certified sugar and other ingredients, featured as a brand partner.
- PactminorApparel company committed to Fair Trade Certified factories and ethical production practices.
- AmazonmajorMajor retailer offering Fair Trade Certified products through their platform, featured as a retailer partner.
- KrogermajorMajor grocery retailer offering Fair Trade Certified products through their Simple Truth brand.
- Sam's ClubminorWarehouse retailer offering Fair Trade Certified products.
- TargetmajorMajor retail chain offering Fair Trade Certified products across their stores and website.
- FlorecalminorFlower producer certified under Fair Trade standards, featured as a producer partner.
- GoiasaminorBrazilian producer organization certified under Fair Trade standards.
- Pratibha SyntexminorTextile and garment producer committed to Fair Trade certification.
- Wholesum HarvestminorFamily farm network producing Fair Trade Certified vegetables, with leadership publicly endorsing the certification model.
- Equator CoffeesminorCoffee company and B-Corp that has been a Fair Trade Certified partner, with CEO Helen Russell publicly supporting the certification.
- Eco LipsminorPersonal care company producing Fair Trade Certified lip balm, with Co-Founder/CEO Steve Shriver endorsing the certification.
- NumimajorOrganic 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 BorquezminorProduce 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
Transfair Usa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Transfair Usa social profiles
Digital presenceTransfair Usa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Transfair Usa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Transfair Usa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Transfair Usa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Transfair Usa
What does Transfair Usa do?
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.
Is Transfair Usa a public or private company?
Transfair Usa is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Transfair Usa founded?
Transfair Usa was founded in 1998.
Where is Transfair Usa based?
Transfair Usa is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Transfair Usa make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Brand and Trader Licensing is the primary driver. The others are producer Certification Fees and donations and Philanthropic Support.
Who are Transfair Usa's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade International / FLO-CERT and B Lab (B Corporation). Broad incumbents are Fair Trade Federation, GLOBALG.A.P., Sedex and SCS Global Services. Emerging players are Earthworm Foundation and FairWild.
Does Transfair Usa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Transfair Usa.
What industry is Transfair Usa in?
Transfair Usa's product category is Fair Trade Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAD, Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing Certification Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAL, Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support).