Equal Exchange Introduces First Brand of Fair Trade Certified Sugar

Press Release

EQUAL EXCHANGE ANNOUNCES FIRST ORGANIC FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED SUGAR

WEST BRIDGEWATER (MA)­March 16th, 2005­Equal Exchange announces today that it has broadened its work to offer Fair Trade Certified sugar in 3.5 gram
single-serving packets. This marks the latest expansion of Equal Exchange's
efforts to bring the benefits of Fair Trade to more farmers worldwide, and to
more consumers in the United States. The organic evaporated cane sugar is
grown by three cooperatives of small-scale farmers in Paraguay, and is
imported in collaboration with La Siembra, a Fair Trade worker cooperative in
Ottawa, Canada. The initial Fair Trade certification is provided by the
non-profit organization, TransFair Canada, in agreement with its American
counterpart, TransFair USA.

The Fair Trade model ensures higher incomes for these sugar cane growers, who
often face unpredictable swings in the prices paid for their crop. Fair Trade
also provides support for their cooperatives, a key to self-help efforts and
local economic development. On average the 150 participating families
cultivate less than 20 acres of sugar cane each and therefore cannot
individually afford to invest in the infrastructure that would help them raise
their standard of living. By combining their efforts with neighboring farmers,
and with the extra income generated by Fair Trade sales, social and economic
improvements have become possible.

The cooperatives have already used Fair Trade funds to set up educational
scholarships for their children, to open a new warehouse, and a
telecommunications center. They have also purchased equipment, including large
scales and a crane, to perform more value-added processing.
Equal Exchange began selling the sugar packets in November, 2004, and now
distributes the sugar to café's, restaurants, consumer food cooperatives, and
to churches participating in Equal Exchange's unique Interfaith Coffee
Program. Numerous requests for Fair Trade sugar from places of worship were a
key factor in the decision to add this new product.

Since Equal Exchange's founding in 1986 the worker cooperative has continually
expanded the reach of Fair Trade through its products and programs. In
addition to growing their core Fair Trade coffee operation, and publicly
promoting the Fair Trade model, a third approach has been to expand into new
food and beverage categories. Towards this goal Equal Exchange launched its
line of fairly traded organic teas in 1998. In 2002 Equal Exchange first began
working with the Paraguayan cooperatives, when their sugar was used for Equal
Exchange's organic hot cocoa mix. In 2004 Equal Exchange greatly expanded its
work with both sugar and cocoa farmers when it introduced organic, Fair Trade
CertifiedT chocolate bars.

Equal Exchange is promoting this new product at the Natural Products Expo West
in Anaheim, California, March 18-20. The sugar will be available at the Equal
Exchange booth, #4127. The wholesale price for a case of 1,000 is $21 and
orders may be placed directly via Equal Exchange's sales office, 774-776-7333.
Equal Exchange, a pioneer and U.S. market leader in Fair Trade coffee since
1986, is a full service provider of high quality, organic coffee, tea, cocoa
products and chocolate to retailers and food service establishments. Major
customers include Kroger, Safeway, Shaw's, Stop & Shop, and Hannaford
supermarkets, natural food stores, consumer food cooperatives, cafés,
restaurants, and thousands of places of worship nationwide. 100% of Equal
Exchange products are fairly traded, benefiting 27 small farmer cooperatives
in 16 countries around the world. In keeping with its Fair Trade mission Equal
Exchange is a worker cooperative, owned and democratically controlled by its
employees.

For more information:
www.transfair.ca/en/ <http://www.transfair.ca/en/
www.fairtrade.net/sites/standards/sp.html
<http://www.fairtrade.net/sites/standards/sp.html%A0
www.equalexchange.com <http://www.equalexchange.com/

Contact:
Rodney North
The Answer Man - Information for the public & media
774 776 7398


Equal Exchange - a worker cooperative dedicated to Fair Trade
50 United Drive
West Bridgewater, Massachusetts 02379
www.equalexchange.com <http://www.equalexchange.com/