Join our Citizen-Consumer Community

Food is a for-profit industry, coming at a cost to farmers, consumers, and the planet. Join us and help build a democratic food system that belongs to the people, not corporations. How can Citizen-Consumers participate in creating a more just system of trade? What can we dream up and leverage collectively? Join us for the opportunity to have your voice and ideas included. We’ll gather for monthly member meetings as well as webinars and events to dive deeper into topics around food politics, agriculture and trade, climate justice, and economic, social and political rights. As a member, you have the opportunity to participate in Equal Exchange's democratic model. We're saving a seat for you.

Illustration with text Calling all who want to build a better food system

Get Started

Join our growing community of Equal Exchange citizen-consumers by telling us how you are connected to Equal Exchange, why you support us, and how you would like to participate more in the future. Whether through purchasing at least $100 of our products per year for your household (no need for receipts, just think about your consumption like a daily coffee ritual or routine gift giving), engaging in advocacy and activism for Equal Exchange or in the wider food system, investing in our alternative capital model, or facilitating the distribution of our products in your congregation or community.




Frankie and Danielle

Contact Us

Please get in touch. We welcome your questions and ideas and look forward to helping you get more involved.

Frankie: (508) 427-5225
Danielle: (774) 776-7407
organizing@equalexchange.coop



With your support, Equal Exchange has built an alternative trade system in solidarity with small farmers and consumers. This system has helped small farmers gain a meaningful seat at the table while affording them more economic power, better lives, and healthier communities. Equal Exchange has had the opportunity to work with producer groups as they struggle and succeed and because of that we understand that radical economic models are challenging but they can work. We’ve proven that there is a viable alternative to the for-profit winner-take-all system.

And yet, our mission is more threatened today than it was 10 years ago. Climate change is wreaking havoc on our farmer partners. Corporate digestion of fair trade has both reduced the power of small farmers and demoralized shoppers in the U.S. as the food system continues to consolidate around us. It is time to organize!

To realize our alternative trade vision, we are taking a powerful step to deepen our democratic model that connects all parts of the supply chain; small farmers, Equal Exchange worker-owners, and supporters like you. We cannot succeed in transforming the food system and building our alternative trade economy without the active, deep and committed participation of citizen-consumers.

Read “The Citizen-Consumer Dilemma, Part One”




Already a Member? Spread the Word

Invite your friends and family to learn more about Equal Exchange products and how they can support an independent and transparent food system. Here’s what some of our members are saying:

“I want to help build a more equitable and sustainable food system. Companies like yours align with my mission! Appreciate your work.” —Ryan A., Harwich, MA

“I would like to start participating. I started a small market in my home town and would love for it to be part of this community.” —Corinne S., Bloomington, IN

“I am a regular consumer of Equal Exchange products (especially chocolate, coffee and bananas!). I've invested over ten years of my career to sustainable agriculture and bringing social equity into the food system. I am also a huge cooperative advocate, and am joining the movement to support worker-owned coops and business structures that bring fair labor and democracy to the workplace. Everything about Equal Exchange is what I am dedicating my career towards!” —Trevor R, Pittsburgh, PA