Ben & Jerry's Expands Fair Trade Certified Products

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben & Jerry’s announced today that it is expanding its Fair Trade Certified ice cream flavors, making it the largest ice cream and frozen food manufacturer to offer Fair Trade Certified ingredients. Ben & Jerry’s Fair Trade Certified line-up now includes: Vanilla, Chocolate, Coffee, Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, and Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz. The announcement comes during Fair Trade month when TransFair USA and businesses across the country are highlighting the importance of Fair Trade Certified products to third world producers.

“With something as simple as choosing to purchase a Fair Trade product, people are making a powerful decision to dramatically improve the quality of life for farmers half way around the world”

“Fair Trade creates stronger economic conditions, which help farmers feed and clothe their families, send their kids to school, get better health care, in general improve the quality of their lives,” said Paul Rice, founding President & CEO of TransFair USA, the only Fair Trade certification organization in the United States.

“With something as simple as choosing to purchase a Fair Trade product, people are making a powerful decision to dramatically improve the quality of life for farmers half way around the world,” Rice said.

Ben & Jerry’s is purchasing Fair Trade Certified coffee from a cooperative in Mexico; vanilla from Fair Trade Certified producers in India, with producers in Indonesia and Uganda under consideration; and Fair Trade Certified cocoa from producers in the Dominican Republic.

“Since Ben and I started the business we’ve used ethical values to guide our business decisions, such as sourcing ingredients,” said Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield. “Expanding from our Fair Trade Certified Coffee flavors to Fair Trade Vanilla and Chocolate is another step forward in our values-led sourcing decisions.”

The new Fair Trade Vanilla will be available in Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops starting in October and then available in supermarkets and grocery stores in January, 2007. Fair Trade Chocolate will be available in Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops in December and then in grocery stores and supermarkets in January, 2007. Fair Trade Certified Coffee flavors are already available in scoop shops and grocery stores nationwide.

About TransFair USA

TransFair USA, a non-profit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S. and one of 20 members of Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO). TransFair’s rigorous audit system, which tracks products from farm to finished product, verifies industry compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair allows U.S. companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict Fair Trade standards.

TransFair’s mission is to build a more equitable and sustainable model of international trade that benefits producers, consumers, industry and the earth. We achieve our mission by certifying and promoting Fair Trade products.

About Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using dairy products from a Vermont dairy cooperative and high-quality ingredients. The company is committed to using milk and cream from cows that have not been treated with the synthetic hormone rBGH, and states its position on rBGH on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues.

Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part mission statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Ben & Jerry’s contributes a minimum of $1.1 million annually through corporate philanthropy that is primarily employee led. Contributions made via the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2005 totaled over $1.4 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.

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