An influential determine within the truthful business motion during the last quarter century, Paul Rice is resigning as CEO of Honest Industry USA.
In a statement closing week, Rice mentioned he’s completing the calendar 12 months with the certification group within the function of founder, then will sign up for the gang’s advisory council.
The Honest Industry USA board tapped present COO Felipe Arango to take over as meantime CEO of the nonprofit group because it searches for an everlasting leader govt.
Rice introduced Honest Industry USA (previously referred to as TransFair USA) in overdue 1998 in a one-room warehouse in Oakland, California.
The group used to be a part of Fairtrade World till it break up off beneath Rice’s management in 2011, keeping up the similar value top class style for certifications however softening the necessities of the certification scheme to permit for participation amongst greater plantation farms.
[Editor’s note: For the purposes of this story, the term “fair trade” refers to the fair trade coffee movement in a broad sense, whereas “Fair Trade USA” and “Fairtrade” (one word) refer to distinct organizations or certification schemes.]
The ideological break up allowed Honest Industry USA to develop to develop into the most important third-party “truthful business” certifier of espresso in the US, whilst operating with greater company inexperienced espresso patrons within the B2B and grocery segments. As of 2022, Honest Industry USA qualified roughly 210 million kilos of coffees according to 12 months, representing roughly 6% of all inexperienced espresso imported within the U.S.
Rice’s resignation comes as the gang has pledged to seriously evaluate and revise its style with a purpose to stay related and impactful. To that finish, the gang has introduced an ongoing “Innovation for Affect Initiative” and Espresso Affect Advisory Board.
In a transfer that used to be criticized via some farmer advocacy teams in 2023, Honest Industry USA introduced plans to take care of its present value premiums tied to qualified coffees, at the same time as Fairtrade World made the historical choice to lift its assured costs to manufacturers. In June, Honest Industry USA mentioned it deliberate to proceed its “espresso marketplace stabilization technique” no less than during the finish of 2025.
In closing week’s announcement, Honest Industry USA mentioned that Rice might be freeing a brand new ebook, revealed via Public Affairs in 2025, referred to as Each and every Acquire Issues: How Honest Industry Farmers, Firms, and Customers Are Converting the Global.
“It has in point of fact been an honor and privilege to steer Honest Industry USA and our wonderful group,” Rice mentioned within the announcement. “I’m so pleased with the affect that we and our stakeholders have had during the last 26 years. Now we have helped enhance the lives of hundreds of thousands of hardworking farmers and staff, construction hope for a greater long run. Now we have proven company The us that moral sourcing will also be excellent now not only for other folks and planet, but additionally for the base line.”
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