The Motivation
After our trip to the Dominican Republic, I personally became a lot more conscientious about where the sugar I was eating was coming from, and whether the sugar that I was purchasing was fair trade certified. At first, it seemed like it would be pretty difficult to find companies that made their products with fair trade sugar. In my mind, most companies would likely opt for the option that would bring them the largest amount of revenue, which means using cheaper (not fair trade) sugar.
The Dominican Republic would be a primary source of such sugar, given that the sugarcane industry laborers that we talked to receive about 3 USD a day. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of my favorite companies do, in fact, use fair trade sugar.
Some of these companies, and my personal favorite products from these companies are highlighted below.
1. Ben & Jerry’s
This is definitely my personal favorite fair trade company on the list, first, because not only is their sugar fair trade, so is their cocoa, vanilla, coffee, and bananas. Additionally, because I’m vegan, I’m always on the lookout for the best vegan ice cream, one that provides me with an alternative to the treat I love without sacrificing taste, and Ben & Jerry’s does just that.
Vegan chunky monkey is my favorite—I’ve most definitely eaten a pint by myself and it was really an amazing experience.
2. Wholesome Sweeteners
Wholesome Sweeteners is one of my favorite companies for buying sugar and other sweeteners for use in cooking and baking. Their products are also non-GMO, free from harmful additives, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly.
In addition to their regular fair trade sugar, I love their coconut sugar and agave and have been using them to top off my oatmeal for years.
3. Honest Tea
I grew up drinking hot tea, but summertime calls for an ice-cold alternative. I have a pretty low sweetness tolerance in general, so I’m not a huge fan of a lot of the pre-bottled teas on the market, but I love the Honey Green Tea and Peach Tea from Honest Tea, which in addition to their fair trade tea and, began sourcing fair trade sugar for their products in 2016.
Next time you’re looking to cool down and hydrate during the summer (I always am), try one of these.
4. This Bar Saves Lives
My obsession with this bar began in the line at Starbucks. Looking for a mid-day snack, I grabbed one of these bars—in the “Madagascar vanilla & honey” flavor to be exact—and instantly fell in love because it tasted exactly like a Rice Krispie treat. (I haven’t been able to have those in years since I became vegetarian because marshmallows contain gelatin).
I was also intrigued by the name of the bar, however, so I looked into it, and the premise of the company is using the proceeds from the bars they sell to provide special nutrient-rich peanut bars to individuals in areas suffering from malnutrition.
On top of all that, the sugar used in these bars is fair trade. It’s really a win-win-win situation: delicious, fair trade, and serves an even larger cause.
5. Kashi
I was first introduced to Kashi when I started looking for healthier alternatives to my typical high-sugar, low-protein, and generally empty calorie cereals and protein bars.
Besides having great nutrition facts and being delicious, the company also prides itself on being fair trade.
Conclusion
Well, there we have it. Chances are, you’ve tried some of the products from these companies, or at least heard of them. This just goes to show that fair trade options are all around you, and the choice to consume fair trade sugar isn’t as restrictive, difficult, or expensive as it may seem.
With more knowledge about these brands, I urge everyone to try buying products from some of them when you can—even that is a small step towards making a difference in our overall cause.
All the best,
Caroline