The Canadian Fairtrade Awards are decided by an independent panel of judges, recognizing excellence in Canadian companies committed to ethical supply chains and exceptional fair trade supporters from Canadian partners and civil society.This year, Camino was proudly awarded with the title of Trader of the Year for 2015.
This distinction recognizes Camino’s unwavering commitment to sustainable supply chains and celebrates our meaningful relationship with organic cacao, coffee and sugar producers. For the past 15 years, Camino has been operating as authentic fairtraders under the “all that can be” fair trade principle, meaning that all ingredients in a Camino end-product, such as our chocolate bars, that can be sourced on fair trade terms is fair trade (such as sugar, vanilla, spices). Camino works directly with over 18 producer co-ops in 9 countries, contributing to the livelihoods of over 36,000 small scale family farmers.
“We are very honored to receive this award and wish to thank everyone who has contributed to making our success as 100% authentic Fair Traders possible. We have been committed to fair trade for over 15 years, since our founders were mixing our hot chocolate recipe in the basement of an Ottawa neighbourhood church,” stated Jennifer Alldred, Marketing Communicatios and worker-owner.
“Today, we remain a worker-coop, trading directly with over 18 organic producer co-ops in 9 countries. We have had the privilege of travelling to origin and staying in farmer family homes. We have seen how fair trade matters and makes a difference in their lives. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our producer partners, investors, customers, loyal consumers and fellow advocates.”
Camino, owned and operated by La Siembra Co-operative based in Ottawa-Gatineau, has demonstrated dedication and commitment to fair trade through our education and advocacy work in Canada, and direct engagement with our producer partners in the South.
We congratulate our fellow award winners and partners:
- Retailer of the Year – Choices Markets and Federated Co-operatives
- Campus of the Year – Brock University
- Town of the Year – City of Brandon and Ville de Hudson
- School of the Year – École secondaire de Mortagne
- Event of the Year – Alberta Student Leadership Conference “Jacked Up Leadership”
- Excellence in Consumer Education – Fair Trade Jewellery Company
- Excellence in Merchandising – Federated Co-operatives
- Excellence in Public Outreach – Aramark Canada
- Fairtrade All Star – Robert McKinnon
- Lifetime Achievement Award– Zack Gross
Pictured left to right – La Siembra: Isabel Martins, Josiane Paquet, Shannon Devine, Chantal Vaillancourt
About Fairtrade Trader Standards
Fairtrade is a strategy that aims to promote sustainable development and to reduce poverty through fairer trade. The main goals of Fairtrade include making changes to the conventional trading system that aim to benefit disadvantaged small farmers and workers, and increasing their access to global markets. These actions can lead to improvements in small producers’ and workers’ social and economic well-being, as well as to their empowerment and environmental sustainability.
About Fairtrade Canada
Fairtrade Canada is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label appears on products to show that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal from trade. Today, more than 1.5 million people – farmers and workers – across more than 74 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system. For more information: www.fairtrade.ca
Thousands of products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark in Canada including coffee, tea & herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, ice cream, cereal bars, bananas, herbs & spices, soya & teriyaki sauces, coconut products, flowers, sports balls, cosmetics, cotton products, wine and gold.
