what products are fair trade

Most common Fair Trade products are everyday items like coffee, chocolate, tea, sugar, bananas, and cotton textiles, along with some wine, flowers, gold, and handicrafts.

What “Fair Trade products” means

Fair trade products are goods where producers (usually farmers or artisans in the Global South) are paid minimum guaranteed prices plus premiums, and work under agreed social and environmental standards. These products are typically certified by organizations such as Fairtrade International, Fair Trade USA, or Fair Trade Federation, whose labels you see on packaging.

Main categories of Fair Trade products

Here are the big buckets where Fair Trade is common:

• Coffee and espresso (one of the oldest and most established Fair Trade categories).

• Tea and herbal infusions.

• Cocoa and chocolate bars, baking cocoa, and hot chocolate mixes.

• Sugar (cane sugar, brown sugar, sometimes syrups).

• Bananas and other fresh fruit like mangos, pineapples, and some citrus.

• Flowers (especially roses exported from countries like Kenya and Ecuador).

• Wine (from Fair Trade-certified vineyards and co‑ops).

• Nuts, oilseeds, spices, rice, quinoa, and other grains.

• Cotton and textiles (T‑shirts, jeans, underwear, towels, bedding, and some home décor).

• Handicrafts and artisan goods (jewelry, bags, home décor, toys, sports balls).

• Multi‑ingredient packaged foods that use Fair Trade ingredients (ice cream, energy bars, granola, cereal, coconut water, etc.).

Simple HTML table of example product types

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Category</th>
      <th>Typical Fair Trade Products</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Coffee & Tea</td>
      <td>Whole-bean coffee, ground coffee, espresso, black/green/herbal teas, bottled iced tea drinks[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cocoa & Chocolate</td>
      <td>Chocolate bars, baking chocolate, cocoa powder, hot cocoa mixes[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Sweeteners</td>
      <td>Cane sugar, brown sugar, some syrups and sweetener blends[web:1][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Fresh Produce</td>
      <td>Bananas, mangos, pineapples, some citrus fruits, occasionally avocados[web:3][web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Flowers</td>
      <td>Roses and mixed bouquets from certified farms[web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Wine</td>
      <td>Bottled wine made with Fair Trade grapes[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Grains & Staples</td>
      <td>Rice, quinoa, nuts, oilseeds, spices, dried fruits[web:3][web:4]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Textiles & Apparel</td>
      <td>Cotton T‑shirts, hoodies, jeans, underwear, towels, bedding, some home décor textiles[web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Handicrafts</td>
      <td>Jewelry, bags, backpacks, sports balls, artisan home décor[web:1][web:4][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Packaged Foods</td>
      <td>Ice cream, granola bars, cereals, coconut water, energy bars using Fair Trade ingredients[web:1][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Examples of Fair Trade–friendly product areas

You’ll often find Fair Trade options in these aisles or sections:

1. Coffee & tea aisle – look for Fairtrade Mark or “Fair Trade Certified” on bags and boxes.

2. Chocolate & sweets – many dark chocolate bars and cocoa products highlight Fair Trade cocoa or sugar.

3. Baking & sweeteners – some sugar brands are Fair Trade–certified.

4. Produce – bananas are the classic example; some stores carry Fair Trade bananas and other labeled fruit.

5. Flowers – bouquets (especially roses) may carry Fair Trade labels around holidays.

6. Wine section – select bottles note Fair Trade grapes or certification on the label.

7. Clothing & home – certain brands of T‑shirts, loungewear, towels, bedding, and bags emphasize Fair Trade cotton and ethical factories.

8. Gift and artisan shops – fair‑trade boutiques often stock jewelry, home décor, and handmade accessories tied to specific producer groups.

How to tell if a product is Fair Trade

Because not every brand or category is fully Fair Trade, checking for certification and labels is key.

Look for:

• A recognizable Fair Trade mark or logo on the package (e.g., Fairtrade International, Fair Trade Certified).

• Ingredient lists that call out “Fair Trade cocoa,” “Fair Trade sugar,” or “Fair Trade coffee” in multi‑ingredient products.

• Brand websites or store signage explaining Fair Trade sourcing and certification partners.

If you want, tell me what you usually buy (coffee, chocolate, clothes, etc.), and I can walk through which of those specific products are most likely to have Fair Trade options and how to spot them quickly on shelves.