fair trade usa , formerly " transfair usa " is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non-profit organization , that sets standards , certifies , and labels products that promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers and protect the environment .

fair trade usa

fair trade usa — fair trade usa is a nonprofit 501 ( c ) 3 organization , and the leading third - party certifier of fair trade products in the united states . fair trade usa is an independent organization and not affiliated with fairtrade international .
fair trade usa is a joke . i worked in the uk for the fairtrade foundation , a member of flo and they have accelerated the growth of fair trade faster than fair trade usa ever will . why ? because fair trade is about people first , not profit in paul rice’s corporation fair trade usa .
fair trade certified™ is the global brand of fair trade usa , the nonprofit organization . look for the fair trade certified seal on products , available worldwide .
still , fair trade can and must do more . this is why fair trade usa is embarking on a new vision ,
iatp incorporates transfair usa , the first u . s . fair - trade certification body
if you have comments or suggestions about any fair trade usa standards , policies , or requirements , email the fair trade standards team .
fair trade usa is the leading fair trade certifying body in north america , operating globally alongside the european - based fairtrade international . colleen anunu , fair trade usa’s senior manager of supply chain , reflects on some of fair trade’s achievements and challenges , with a focus on the coffee sector . she also explains how fair trade usa and oikocredit are teaming up to reduce price risks for coffee farmers .
fair trade usa ' s split from flo : issues and implications
laura t . raynolds and douglas l . murray | center for fair and alternative trade
for more details , read fwp’s statement on fair trade usa ? s resignation from fairtrade international ( flo ) .
4 . what is fair trade : impact , ” fairtrade usa , accessed october 6 , 2013 , urltoken .
fair trade products , like this nicaraguan coffee , have attracted customers who care about sustainability . but is fair trade usa doing enough ? photograph : janet jarman / corbis
every purchase supports something . fair trade exists so we can support what’s fair .
fair trade helps put an end to unjust and unsustainable practices in global trade .
fair trade usa is proud to announce the release of our 2011 fair trade almanac . each year , fair trade usa’s certification department collects data from both our business partners and producer organizations , and complies it all into one easily - digestible report that serves as a key indicator for the health and growth of fair trade in the united states .
billy linstead goldsmith joined fair trade usa in 2009 as the first national coordinator of fair trade towns in the u . s . , a global grassroots movement of fair trade advocates focused on normalizing fair trade as an institutional practice and consumer preference that today boasts over 2 , 000 fair trade towns across 32 countries and on 6 continents . under billy’s leadership , the movement has evolved from a handful of towns into fair trade campaigns , a national network of advocacy groups comprised of nearly 300 local campaigns with formal programs for fair trade towns , fair trade colleges & universities , fair trade schools and fair trade congregations .
producers selling products with the fair trade certified™ seal may be certified against fair trade usa standards or fairtrade international standards . fair trade usa fully recognizes and accepts producers certified against fairtrade international standards to sell fair trade certified products . acceptance of fairtrade international certification encourages all eligible producers to become ( or remain ) certified under fairtrade international standards and helps avoid duplicative audits . fair trade usa and flocert coordinate to ensure the sharing and transfer of records necessary to maintain compliance .
october is officially fair trade month , and fair trade usa founder and ceo paul rice is both optimistic and realistic about the impact of fair trade certified products for lifting farmers and producers in poor , developing nations out of poverty .
fair trade usa is a nonprofit , but an unusually sustainable one . it gets most of its revenues from service fees from retailers . for every pound of fair trade coffee sold in the united states , retailers must pay 10 cents to fair trade usa . that 10 cents helps the organization promote its brand , which has led some in the coffee business to say that fair trade usa is primarily a marketing organization…
on behalf of equal exchange , the enterprise largely responsible for introducing fair trade commodities to the us market back in the 80s , we respectfully disagree with fair trade usa and their claim that their new approach will “double fair trade’s impact” .
green mountain coffee roasters , which calls itself the largest buyer of fair trade coffee in the world , said that it would continue to work with fair trade usa as it sought to increase the amount of fair trade coffee it used .
every $ 1 fair trade usa has spent since 1999 has generated more than $ 5 in additional farmer and worker income .
fair trade usa ' s split from flo : issues and implications
laura t . raynolds and douglas l . murray
fair trade helps make the right choices the easiest ones . look for the fair trade certified™ seal when you shop .
fair trade usa resigned our membership from flo in order to eliminate these inconsistencies which exclude so many from the benefits of fair trade . beginning in coffee , we are adapting fair trade standards for both workers on large farms and independent small holders . through this more inclusive model , fair trade usa can reach over 4 million farm workers who are currently excluded from the system .
already sell some fair trade coffee . “we see a real momentum now with big companies and institutions switching to fair trade , ” said paul rice , president and chief executive of transfair usa , the only independent fair trade certifier in the united states .
fair trade has become a stronger and more vibrant presence in global trade , linking companies and consumers worldwide . thousands of brands and products from farms and factories in more than 70 countries are now fair trade certified . fair trade usa has played its part , such as by helping develop markets for fair trade clothing and sea food and encouraging the sale and promotion of fair trade produce by towns and universities .
3 . what is fair trade , ” fair trade resource network . accessed october 6 , 2013 , urltoken , 2 .
you can support fair trade anytime , anywhere . see how you can make a difference by mobilizing fair trade in your community .
motivated by the impact of the fair trade model , rice founded fair trade usa in october of 1998 . combined with organizations like fair trade international , the global reach of fair trade certified products includes tea , coffee , sugar , chocolate , cocoa , herbs , spices , honey , wine , flowers , grain , and rubber .
the company is participating in a pilot project with fair trade usa involving a 500 - acre organic coffee plantation in brazil , a farm that previously would have been too large to get fair trade certification .
fair trade usa is guided by a diverse team of leaders who are united under our mission to alleviate global poverty and promote sustainable development .
fair trade usa enables sustainable development and community empowerment by cultivating a more equitable global trade model that benefits farmers , workers , fishermen , consumers , industry , and the earth . we achieve our mission by certifying and promoting fair trade products .
in 2009 , fairtrade international ( flo ) along with the world fair trade organization adopted the charter of fair trade principles , which provides a single international reference point for fair trade . the charter includes our common vision , definition of fair trade , core principles and the distinct approaches to fair trade . fairtrade international endorses the definition of fair trade and adheres to the principles . find out more here .
shoppers in established fair trade markets also bought more . the largest fair trade markets had strong growth : 14 percent in the uk and 7 percent in the usa . retail sales of fair trade certified products in the united states reached an estimated $ 1 . 2 billion in 2009 . for detailed statistics on the growth of fair trade certified imports into the united states , check out transfair usa ' s 2009 almanac .
actually , fair trade usa does not certify companies or businesses . we partner with businesses to certify individual products , facilities , and producer groups .
“in fair trade , sales correlate directly to impact in farming communities , so we’re thrilled to see growth across all channels , ” said cate baril , director of business development , grocery and ingredients for fair trade usa .
boston , ma , march 29 , 2012 – dfta has issued a call to fair trade usa to be accountable to the fair trade movement in north america , transparent about processes and policies , and authentically engage stakeholders .
fair trade has made a huge difference in my life ,
says ulysma desiline , a fair trade mango grower in haiti .
working with a fair trade cooperative allows me to support my family .
paul rice , chief executive of fair trade usa , said the fair trade movement was dominated by hard - liners who resisted needed changes . “we’re all debating what do we want fair trade to be as it grows up , ” mr . rice said . “do we want it to be small and pure or do we want it to be fair trade for all ? ”
on monday , october 24 , 2011 cfat co - directors laura raynolds and douglas murray presented “fair trade usa’s split from flo : issues and implications . ”
fair trade usa , oikocredit and others have launched a price risk management project for latin american coffee cooperatives . can you tell us more about this project ?
paul rice is president & ceo of fair trade usa , the leading third - party certifier of fair trade in the united states . previously , paul worked for 11 years as a rural development specialist in nicaragua , where he founded the country’s first fair trade , organic coffee export cooperative . paul holds a ba from yale university and an mba from haas school of business at the university of california at berkeley . follow fair trade usa on twitter : @ fairtradeusa
how does fair trade u . s . a . work with other organizations or trade unions on wider issues ?
bennett leads the tech team at fair trade usa as they build and manage tools to collect , analyze , and communicate data across supply chains around the world .
we are proud of the work fair trade usa and our partners have accomplished , but as 2 billion people still live on less than $ 2 usd a day , there is much more to be done . as we move into a new year , fair trade usa has chosen to buck the status quo , take a risk , challenge the norm , and go where no organization has gone before to make fair trade truly fair for all .
2 . “sixty years of fair trade : a brief history of the fair trade movement . nov . 2006 , accessed october 5 , 2013 , urltoken .
maya spaull , senior director of apparel and home goods at fair trade usa , spearheads the strategic development of the fair trade manufacturing program . in this role , she oversees all aspects of bringing fair trade apparel and home goods products to market , connecting stakeholders in the sector and building fair trade supply chains with leading global brands and factories . maya ' s commitment to economic sustainability for global communities and her deep belief in positive systems change is grounded in her early work as an ethnobotanist . maya has worked at fair trade usa since 2004 , managing a multitude of products including tea , honey , wine , cosmetics and developed ft usa’s seafood program .
there are many voices in the fair trade movement , all united under a common mission to alleviate poverty through trade . flo , one group in the global movement , is focused on small farmers organized into cooperatives . fair trade usa , another voice , believes that fair trade has to work for all kinds of producers to make a meaningful dent in global poverty .
the fair trade standards strictly prohibit use of genetically modified organisms ( gmos ) .
fair trade raises awareness that it is possible to help citizens in developing countries .
if fair trade improves its certification procedures , we can increase our support later .
not necessarily ; although , over half of all fair trade certified products imported into the usa are also organic , and fair trade does incentivize organic farming by making training and resources available for farmers , and by offering a higher price for organic goods .
fair trade usa partnered with nmi as part of its broad - reaching “the state of sustainability in america” study , which will be released at the end of march 2016 .
maya is an experienced ambassador for fair trade usa , often visiting with fair trade producer groups and representing the organization at global industry events . prior to joining fair trade usa , maya worked in the gemstone industry on sourcing and sales . she also developed and sold her own line of jewelry . maya is a mother , avid gardener , dancer , music enthusiast , and works locally in the bay area on sustainable food issues .
since fair trade launched 50 years ago , european consumer awareness about fair trade has grown to well over 80 percent . yet in the united states , where the movement is younger , only about 34 percent of consumers are aware of fair trade .
having trouble finding fair trade products where you shop ? sometimes all you have to do is ask ! requesting more fair trade products is as easy as filling out a comment card or speaking directly with the manager . explain that you want to make every purchase matter by buying fair trade . it helps to name specific products or product categories and to direct the manager to the fair trade usa website urltoken to learn more .
wal - mart and whole foods also sell fair trade coffee and use fair trade ingredients in store - brand products ; both companies said they were evaluating the situation .
in addition , a legal presence is needed in the usa to help businesses remain in the international fairtrade system . please visit fairtrade america for more information on our efforts in the usa .
fair trade usa is a nonprofit , but an unusually sustainable one . it gets most of its revenues from service fees from retailers . for every pound of fair trade coffee sold in the united states , retailers must pay 10 cents to fair trade usa . that 10 cents helps the organization promote its brand , which has led some in the coffee business to say that fair trade usa is primarily a marketing organization . in 2009 , the nonprofit had a budget of $ 10 million , 70 percent of which was funded by fees . the remaining 30 percent came from philanthropic contributions , mostly from foundation grants and private donors .
follow the steep , winding trail of colombian fair trade coffee through the sierra nevadas .
explore job openings at fair trade and find out how you can join the movement .
traidcraft organises ‘people to people tours’ that include visits to their fair trade producer partners .
educate your friends and family about fair trade by sharing a video . fair trade can be a tricky concept to grasp , so the new fair trade month psa features a simple explanation from a 7 - year - old who also happens to be an expert shopper . visit the fair trade certified youtube page to find even more educational videos .
about two dozen countries have fair trade labeling organizations that license companies to market fair trade products . fairtrade international provides a uniform logo for use on packaging in most countries .
what is fair trade u . s . a . ’s stance on “living wages” ?
in 1998 , four european fair trade organizations banded together to form an international coalition to promote and more clearly define fair trade practices around the world . calling their coalition fine , these organizations set forth one of the most commonly used definitions of fair trade :
there are two different types of fair trade certification : organizational recognition and producer certification .
fair trade usa , the movement’s leading advocate in the united states , angered critics by saying it would cut its ties at year’s end with the main international fair trade group and make far - reaching changes in the sorts of products that get its seal of approval .
he said the company would decide in the next few weeks whether it would continue to work with fair trade usa or arrange to use the fairtrade international logo on its products instead .
critics accuse fair trade usa of watering down standards , perhaps motivated by the bigger fees to be earned from certifying a higher volume of products . some sellers of fair trade products fear that small coffee farmers will lose market share to the big plantations and that companies will have an incentive to include only the minimum amount of fair trade ingredients in their products .
…as the name implies , fair trade has sought not only to protect farmers but also to correct the legacy of the colonial mercantilist system… to its credit , fair trade usa has played a significant role in getting american consumers to pay more attention to the economic plight of poor coffee growers . although fair trade coffee still accounts for only a small fraction of overall coffee sales , the market for fair trade coffee has grown markedly over the last decade , and purchases of fair trade coffee have helped improve the lives of many small growers .
while coffee is still the leader in fair trade ( over 1 billion pounds certified since 1998 ) , many ( 30 + ) new fair trade categories have emerged over the years . you can find fair trade in nearly every aisle of the supermarket , and can live a truly fair trade lifestyle with the introduction of new apparel and home goods products .
well , technically it does , but the great part about fair trade month is that it gives you the tools needed to bring fair trade into your daily life beyond october .
perhaps the most unique element about the fair - trade system is the fair - trade premium , an additional amount of money that brands contribute into a worker run bank account .
it ' s convenient that fair trade month and halloween share a month , because both occasions provide a great opportunity to promote fair trade . the easiest place to start is by ensuring that your halloween chocolate is fair trade certified . costume ideas that make a statement : dress as a fair trade certified banana , cup of coffee or chocolate bar . when someone asks about your costume , take the time to explain why fair trade matters to you .
visit the fair trade certified fan page and you will find a robust community of fair traders like you ! regular updates will help you stay up - to - date on the latest news in the fair trade world , including frequent giveaways , stories from fair trade farms , delicious recipes , and information about fair trade events . become a fan to demonstrate your support for fair trade , then take your support a step further by becoming a fan of brands that sell fair trade certified products . this is a good way to let them know that you like what they ' re doing !
we also run two annual campaigns , one for fair trade month and one mother’s day .
the group says the changes will benefit more poor farmers and farm workers around the world and make it easier for large corporations to sell fair trade products . sales of fair trade goods in 2010 were $ 1 . 3 billion in the united states and $ 5 . 8 billion globally . fair trade usa said it hoped to double sales in the united states by 2015 .
in addition , brands that launch fair trade feel rewarded with positive outcomes and usually grow their commitments . patagonia , for example , launched with 11 fair trade certified women’s products in 2014 , and now offers over 200 fair trade products across their men’s , women’s and kid’s portfolio .
a complete list of fair trade premium amounts and fair trade minimum prices for all products we currently certify . products with special price terms are further explained in special price and premium terms .
despite this , blake morton is a vocal supporter of fair trade and is convinced that a 100 % fair trade concept will help distinguish her from competitors and drive business to the store .
the 2011 edition showcases monumental growth in fair trade certified™ imports , record - breaking community development premiums , and fair trade usa’s reinvigorated efforts to strengthen producer organizations through a variety of new cooperative development programs . this parallels significant increase in consumer awareness , which has quadrupled in the past 5 years .
ms . yusen said that green mountain bought 26 million pounds of fair trade coffee in 2010 ; in that year , it paid $ 1 . 5 million in licensing fees to fair trade usa , making it the largest source of revenue for the nonprofit group , according to federal tax filings .
fairtrade international – the international fairtrade system is made up of fairtrade international and its member organizations , including 19 national fairtrade organizations representing 24 countries . fair trade usa is not a member of fairtrade international .
american consumers have so much power . every time we go to the store we can vote with our dollars for a better world .
- paul rice , president & ceo of fair trade usa
on september 15 th , fairtrade international ( flo ) and fair trade usa ( ftusa ) jointly announced that ftusa is resigning its membership in flo , effective december 31 , 2011 . ftusa ? s resignation from the flo system is partially due to its new initiative , ? fair trade for all ? ( urltoken ) which it claims will ? double the impact ? of fair trade by 2015 .
don’t be shy ! plug into our passionate fair trade community and take action from absolutely anywhere .
in the united states , fair trade sports produces soccer balls that adhere to fair trade certification standards . fair trade sports has received press in a variety of american and international publications , and their soccer balls have even been publicized in the world cup host country of south africa . in addition to being fair trade certified , these soccer balls are colorful , eco - certified and vegan .
to see what a business partnership with fair trade looks like , please visit our business page .
why do consumers buy fair trade products ? list a few reasons and analyze each of them .
we certify all products bearing the fair trade certified seal to fulfill our mission , which is to cultivate a more equitable model for global trade .
“this growth in fair trade offerings indicates that consumers increasingly care about what happens at the other of the supply - chain—that the farmers who grow the foods they love can take care of their land , their families , and themselves , ” said sri artham , vice president of cpg at fair trade usa . “it’s clear that the brands supporting fair trade are rewarded by consumers voting with their dollars . ”
so we now have the corporatizing of fair trade in the usa . because as we learned in the wood wars between sfi and fsc , workers rights , coops and unions are an anathema to american business .
meanwhile , a lot of canadian roasters , who remain committed to fair trade international , are gearing up to sell more in the usa to people who believe this is important . i love kicking horse coffee .
beverages : third street expands offerings to three new chai flavors . hiball launches fair trade alta palla sparkling water , cold brew and protein drinks . honest tea ’s entire line of products will now source 100 % fair trade certified™ tea and sugar . bj’s wholesale club launches a line of fair trade certified™ wellsley farms coffee . kroger launches a line of simple truth fair trade teas as well as a new private label coffee . zico expands fair trade coconut water selection with new 1 - liter offerings .
ben joined fair trade usa in late 2012 to help strengthen fair trade’s role as a platform for sustainable supply chain management , in service of the needs of farmers and their buyers alike . as director of coffee supply , ben leads the organization’s investment in producer services , industry collaboration , and supply chain development .
“starbucks , green mountain and other coffee companies will be able to become 100 percent fair trade not because they’ve changed their business practices one iota but because fair trade usa has changed the rules of the game , ” said dean cycon , founder of the dean’s beans organic coffee company , in orange , mass .
thanks for the conversation . it’s good to see something directly from ft usa on how they see the situation .
14 . fairtrade usa , “starbucks , transfair usa and fairtrade labelling organizations international join in support of small - scale coffee farmers through a $ 20 million loan program , ” press release , april 16 , 2009 , urltoken .
the logo overload will include a redesigned fair trade usa seal ; a fairtrade international seal , which previously did not appear in this country ; and labels from smaller programs , like one run by catholic relief services .
ruskin has 20 years of non - profit leadership and management experience and a proven track record of executing strategic resource development programs that engage supporters in advancing mission - based businesses . he joined fair trade usa in 2016 to spearhead the $ 25 million fair trade for all capital campaign and build a robust philanthropy program .
“it’s critical that consumers see the fair trade certified label as a symbol of social and environmental integrity , ” said mary jo cook , vice president of marketing and business development for fair trade usa . “therefore , we have established the new policy to promote consumer confidence through greater label disclosure and enhanced online resources . ”
provides definitions for the terminology used in the fair trade standards , compliance criteria , and associated documents .
if you wear fair trade clothing , you have a hand in the making of these stories too .
founder of green mountain coffee roasters , inc . invests $ 10 million in the future of fair trade
between the increasing prevalence of fair trade soccer balls and the rise of fair trade in host country south africa , the world cup is proving to relate to fair trade issues on multiple levels . as you watch the games in the coming weeks , consider these issues along with the events on the field .
producer networks , which represent the interests of fairtrade certified small - scale producers , workers and other stakeholders , are concerned about the changes in the global fairtrade system and the departure of fair trade usa ( ftusa ) .
in breaking with flo , fair trade usa has declared its keen readiness to certify coffee plantations , as well as take the necessary steps to rapidly expand fair trade certification and sales , while providing “farmers with tools , training and resources to thrive as international businesspeople . ” starbucks is no doubt ecstatic over the move as it will now be able to expand its certification without making major changes to its business practices . in fact , the door is now wide open for any number of changes to ‘fair trade’ certification as corporate partners line up to propose suggestions to fair trade usa , willing to do what it takes to get more corporations on board .
fair trade organizations and members of the grassroots fair trade movement , including fair trade towns and universities , faith groups and ngos , have been an integral part to the growth of both fairtrade certification in the us and to campaigning for trade justice for farmers and workers around the world . we strongly believe that by working together we are stronger than we are alone .
byler’s efforts constituted a precursor of fair trade , but the first organizations to utilize the fair trade designation in its modern sense were european . the first fair trade organization in europe was in the united kingdom , an offshoot of oxfam uk , which during the 1950s had sold crafts made by chinese refugees . by 1964 , this had developed into the fair trade organization , and in 1967 , the netherlands initiated its own cooperative , fair trade original . following a concept similar to that of the ten thousand villages storefronts in the united states , the dutch opened a fair trade world shop in 1969 . world shops became the first retail distribution network of fair trade products and the first european world shops conference was held in 1984 . 2
as of the beginning of january , fair trade usa is no longer part of the world fair trade organization , and has
gone its own way .
paul rice , president and ceo , tries to justify this in triple pundit , suggesting that by making certain changes , they could double their impact in three years . the most important change is in certification of coffee , where fair trade certification was limited to farmers cooperatives .
take the time to teach a friend or family member about the importance of fair trade . help them to understand why every purchase matters and why farmers in the developing world need our support . we find that teachable moments are best created over a delicious fair trade certified chocolate bar , a cup of tea , or scoop of ice cream made with fair trade certified ingredients . share these two - minute videos to help explain the impact of fair trade , the environmental benefits of fair trade , and the power of the consumer .
regardless of the ongoing controversy about its legitimacy , it appears that fair trade certification is here to stay .
5 . “who we are , ” world fair trade organization , accessed november 25 , 2014 , urltoken .
sales of fair trade certified products grew in the us by 63 percent last quarter from the previous quarter , reflecting a rapid acceptance of fair trade by mainstream retailers and growing awareness by consumers . fair trade products represent 800 brands sold in at least 100 , 000 retail outlets for total sales of $ 1 . 5 billion .
there are a number of reports and investigations that indicate that fair trade inspections are unreliable . some of these criticisms have come from former insiders , such as christian jacquiau and paola ghillani , formerly associated with fairtrade labelling organizations . 15 in 2006 , a financial times investigation of fair trade in peru revealed that out of ten mills that claimed to sell fair trade coffee , all ten had sold uncertified coffee as certified . it also found that workers on fair trade farms were often paid beneath the minimum wage , in violation of fair trade standards .
fair trade usa is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations in order to expand the reach and impact of fair trade . your gift supports our life - changing work with farmer and worker families across latin america , africa , and asia . economic security . schools . scholarships . life - saving medical care . women’s empowerment . environmental sustainability .
at the end of the day , these innovations will bring the benefits of fair trade to far more farmers and workers ; enable more businesses to develop reliable and ethical supply chains ; allow more retailers to offer more fair trade certified products ; and give consumers a broader selection of quality fair trade certified products from which to choose .
the flo model has changed little since its inception . although the fair trade price and premium for coffee has been adjusted upward over time , the rules and regulations have remained fairly static . fair trade’s chief legacy may be greater consumer awareness among coffee drinkers . “we generate awareness to create demand in the market , ” explains stacy wagner , public relations manager at fair trade usa . and they have had tremendous success doing so . today , according to wagner , 50 percent of american households are aware of fair trade coffee , up from only 9 percent in 2005 .
why have so few universities in the us joined fair trade universities ( usa ) compared to the scores in the uk . since 2008 , only six or seven universities out of 3000 + / - have joined despite its ideological appeal .
news , announcements , and real - life stories about the fair trade vision unfolding as a way of life .
vancouver fair trade did a good job summarizing some of the background information regarding the split . read more to learn up on the issue . crs has also done a good job of unpacking the implications for fair trade producers .
downie , andrew . “fair trade in bloom . ” new york times . october 2 , 2007 . urltoken .
bennett joined fair trade usa to bring systems and process to the marketing and communications team . he then started the tech team in order to accomplish similar goals across the organization . prior to joining fair trade usa , bennett led the strategy practice at a digital marketing agency where he created scalable global digital communications strategies for fortune 500 brands . he received his bachelor’s degree from the university of north carolina at chapel hill and his mba from the university of north carolina at charlotte .
like many economic and political movements , the fair trade movement arose to address the perceived failure of the market and remedy important social issues . as the name implies , fair trade has sought not only to protect farmers but also to correct the legacy of the colonial mercantilist system and the kind of crony capitalism where large businesses obtain special privileges from local governments , preventing small businesses from competing and flourishing . to its credit , fair trade usa has played a significant role in getting american consumers to pay more attention to the economic plight of poor coffee growers . although fair trade coffee still accounts for only a small fraction of overall coffee sales , the market for fair trade coffee has grown markedly over the last decade , and purchases of fair trade coffee have helped improve the lives of many small growers .
starbucks , which has about 11 , 000 coffee shops in the united states , also said that it planned to continue using fair trade usa to certify coffee it sells in this country . however , the company said that it had not decided whether to place a fair trade label on coffee grown on large plantations . starbucks said that about 8 percent of the coffee used in its global operations came from fair trade farms in 2010 , or about 21 million pounds .
fair trade usa ( ie . transfair usa ) recently announced its intention to resign its membership in the umbrella organization fairtrade international ( ie . fairtrade labelling organizations international ) . on september 15 , 2011 , flo and ftusa released a joint statement stating that whereas the two groups share a common belief system , they have different perspectives in how to achieve fair trade goals and objectives . while ftusa will no longer be operating within the flo system as of the end of the year , both groups stress that they will remain committed to core fair trade principles as they transition into separate governance spheres .
this october is the 9th annual fair trade month . throughout the month , ethically - minded consumers , retailers and brands will unite to celebrate and promote fair trade . a variety of education events , in - store sampling programs and online initiatives have been planned to help increase awareness and sales of fair trade certified products , ultimately leading to greater impact for farmers and workers in developing countries . the theme for fair trade month 2012 is count me in .
liz forwand joined fair trade usa in 2016 as the director of business process and quality assurance . she is responsible for designing business process and quality management systems that ensure high quality products and services are efficiently and effectively delivered to all fair trade usa stakeholders . in this capacity , she works with teams across the organization to drive innovation in internal processes , and design program structures that align with industry compliance requirements and recognized best practices in the field of standard setting and assurance systems .
“our ongoing commitment to small - scale farmers remains intact , ” sandy yusen , a green mountain spokeswoman , said . “we also believe that fair trade usa’s vision presents new opportunities that allow us to impact even more farmers and workers . ”
it is becoming easier and easier to find fair trade products in your neighborhood . you can now find 10 , 000 fair trade certified™ products on stores shelves throughout the u . s . come october , be sure to keep an eye out for the launch of the fair trade finder application for facebook , i - phone and android platforms . the fair trade finder will allow you to find and tag your favorite fair trade products in a store near you , generating greater impact for the farmers and workers around the world whose hands go into making the products we love .
you can also ask for fair trade to be served at your school or office . encouraging a large organization to go fair trade is a very effective way to increase the impact for farmers and workers in more than 58 countries .
to become a fair trade vendor or brand and obtain the right to use one of the authorized trademarks or labels , importers and vendors are certified by national fair trade organizations . such brands are recognized as trading only products from authorized suppliers who , in turn , buy from farms that pay their workers a fair wage and follow sustainable practices . when you see a product in a supermarket or store that is labeled fair trade , it indicates that the brand has sought and obtained certification from a national fair trade organization .
fair trade honors women who challenge the status quo , standing out and standing up for gender equality around the world .
rink dickinson , the president of equal exchange , an importer of fair trade coffee , chocolate , tea and bananas .
when you buy fair trade certified products , you’re voting for sustainable livelihoods , thriving worker communities , and environmental protection .
fair trade had grown from humble origins to the point where it could be claimed that it was having a major impact on global coffee production . by 2009 , fair trade coffee had become a $ 1 . 8 billion market . 12
haight , colleen . “the problem with fair trade coffee . ” stanford social innovation review . summer 2011 . urltoken .
the world ' s leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry . make sure you are part of it .
1 fair trade usa website . 2 urltoken . 3 international coffee association website . 4 ibid . 5 transfair usa 2009 almanac , p . 10 . 6 urltoken . 7 colleen haight ,
is fair trade in coffee production fair and useful ? evidence from costa rica and guatemala and implications for policy ,
mercatus policy series , policy comment 11 , june 2007 . 8 jesus gonzales from the tajumuco cooperative , guatemala , as quoted in un mundo de certificacion , a video produced for the 2005 specialty coffee association of america meetings in seattle . 9 urltoken .
unique and noteworthy : i heart keenwah expands offerings with a new line of toasted quinoa hot cereal , made with fair trade certified quinoa . spectrum expands fair trade certified chia offerings to three new supplements : organic ground chia , warrior vitality blend and decadent blend ; and launches organic all vegetable shortening , the first product made with fair trade certified palm oil .
one of the reasons for the complexity of the fair trade system is that there is no universal fair trade authority . there are several important international organizations that serve a coordinating function , but none of these has the power to impose standards on all players in the field . in fact , there are many different kinds of fair trade organizations : international nonprofit organizations , regional nonprofit organizations , local nonprofit organizations that certify fair trade brands , local nonprofit organizations that certify fair trade farming and exporting cooperatives , and finally , both nonprofit and for - profit inspection organizations that visit the farming cooperatives to determine whether they meet the criteria to be certified as fair trade . let us describe a few of the most important organizations .
the concluding months of 2011 were marked by a period of great change and innovation in the fair trade movement : a time of unprecedented forward thinking and passionate debate about what it means to be fair trade certified . we now find ourselves at an exciting crossroads . fair trade usa has boldly questioned the status quo and is moving in a new direction to significantly increase the effectiveness and reach of the fair trade model . at the beginning of this new year , we couldn’t be more hopeful about what lies ahead , knowing that as a result of these innovations , we could double our impact in just three years .
the above - described organizations are just a few of the literally hundreds of nonprofit and for - profit organizations operating in the fair trade sector . next , let us describe how the process works in bringing fair trade products to your kitchen .
to back up his argument , north points to brazilian plantations that opted in – and later opted out – of the fair trade usa pilot project . the workers on these plantations , he claims , are clearly not in control . “ [ they ] work for an owner who can drop fair trade whenever convenient , which we’ve already seen happen in brazil , ” he says .
through this network , billy also manages a range of strategic partnerships for fair trade usa including nonprofit organizations within the fair trade movement as well as important stakeholders in the larger social justice and sustainability movements . billy and his team are focused on activating consumers to make a difference through their own purchasing decisions , influencing their fellow community members , increasing the availability and visibility of fair trade locally , and leveraging the immense purchasing power of the institutions that they are part of to empower producers around the world .
in its current form , fair trade principles are applied inconsistently . for some product categories , like coffee , fair trade certification is limited to cooperatives , while in other categories , like bananas and tea , workers on large farms can become certified .
outside of the traditional markets , australia and new zealand led the way by increasing fair trade sales by 58 percent , while eastern european countries like the czech republic , latvia and lithuania burst onto the scene as well . these trends show that consumption of fair trade products is becoming a worldwide phenomenon , planting the seeds for a future explosion in the fair trade movement .
sweets & treats : marich chocolates launches 32 new skus dipped in fair trade certified™ chocolate , including triple chocolate toffee , pastel chocolate cherries and milk chocolate sea salt caramel popcorn . tcho expands offerings to five new bars . vosges haut - chocolat expands offerings to five new bars . whole foods 365 everyday value ice cream adds two new fair trade certified™ flavors , french vanilla and cookies & cream . kashi launches two fair trade certified™ golean bars . annie’s launches fair trade certified™ cocoa bunnies cereal .
5 . relatively little fair - trade coffee originates from the poorest countries . the poorest coffee - growing countries are in africa : ethiopia , kenya , and tanzania . fair - trade exports from these countries represent less than 10 percent of coffee marketed through fair trade , while the share of fair - trade coffee from middle - income countries such as mexico , brazil , and colombia is many times higher . effective poverty interventions should be targeted at most poor , not the medium - poor .
elsewhere patel writes , “‘fair trade’ isn’t a cure for poverty . it’s a band - aid , a temporary patch . ”
we’re proud to say that 59 percent of the u . s . population is aware of the fair trade certified label .
jennifer chapman joined fair trade usa as head of people in august of 2017 . her mandate is to lead the organization’s talent function , and to support a culture where employees thrive . ftusa’s goal is to honor best practices in recruiting , developing and retaining staff .
wto holds its fifth ministerial in cancún , mexico . during the ministerial , iatp organizes the first fair trade fair and launches radio cancún , daily on - the - ground podcast coverage .
from production to purchase , fair trade is a model of sustainable , ethical trade that puts people and planet first . it’s the easiest way to do the most good , every day .
founded in 1998 , fair trade usa is the leading independent third - party certifier of fair trade products in north america . we’re a four time winner of fast company’s social capitalist of the year award and the prestigious skoll award for social entrepreneurship , and have been recognized as a leading social venture by the clinton global initiative , ashoka , the klaus schwab foundation and the world economic forum .
nestlé , dole , and coca - cola have had particular products certified as fair trade , although they have hardly changed their overall business models . critics worry that starbucks and mcdonald’s have been able to use the seal to sanitize their corporate images , even though only a small fraction of the coffee they sell is fair trade . whole foods and wal - mart use fair trade raw materials in some store - brand products , but whether the finished items reflect equitable trade relationships is questionable . fair trade usa courted international controversy in september when it announced , as the new york times explained , that it would “place its seal on products with as little as 10 percent fair trade ingredients , compared with a minimum of 20 percent required in other countries . ” obviously , even 20 percent is not a number that will impress the radical eater .


jack hidary is a technology and financial entrepreneur who lives in new york city .

he is the chairman of samba energy and was the co-founder of earthweb/dice , inc. and vista research .

he also co-founded the auto x prize and was one of the architects for the cash for clunkers program .

hidary was a 2013 new york city mayoral candidate running as an independent .

jack hidary

jack hidary , independent candidate for nyc mayor . ( hidaryfornyc . com ) jack hidary , independent candidate for nyc mayor . ( hidaryfornyc . com )
in wednesday’s eye on politics segment , wcbs 880’s steve scott spoke with independent candidate jack hidary .
tech multimillionaire jack hidary tells david freedlander he has a real chance of winning in new york .
jack was born in the ocean parkway sephardic community near coney island . jack’s great - grandparents came to ellis island as immigrants , living in the lower east side tenements . jack’s great - grandfather , moses hidary , worked as both a barber and teacher .
the foundation’s work on cancer will focus on the use of emerging tools such as genomic sequencing in the fight against cancer . this study with the mra will be supported by members of the hidary family including david and aimee hidary , jack hidary , murray hidary , richard and esther hidary , and michael and sarah hidary .
homecrest product and dot - com millionaire jack hidary is entering the crowded field of new york city ' s mayoral race , and wagering some of the big bucks he earned through job seach site dice . com . ( courtesy jack hidary )
jack hidary argues that bonuses should be structured to incentivize innovation , rather than just fulfilling day - to - day activities .
the primary aim of the jack d . hidary foundation is to catalyze scalable , self - sustaining programs in education and economic development .
in his current role , jack focuses on the marketplace scaling of x lab innovations .
jack d . hidary built his career as an entrepreneur and has been dedicated to public service in education , sustainable energy and economic growth .
jack’s father , david hidary , joined the family business and is a very active community member dedicated to education and social services . jack’s father was president of the local school for 20 years . jack’s mother is head of the orange dance program , a non - profit program for girls in memory of mariel hidary . the family shared a two - family home with their uncle and aunt upstairs before moving to their own house near ps 215 where jack’s father had attended school .
newer to the race is jack hidary , the tech tycoon behind career site urltoken and solar energy firm samba energy . hidary announced his candidacy in july on his own jobs and education party line .
jack is a regular guest on business and tech channels such as bloomberg , cnbc and cnn .
jack now serves as senior advisor to x labs , the advanced innovation lab of alphabet / google .
foxbusiness . com’s gabrielle karol interviews jack hidary , independent candidate for nyc mayor , on life as a serial entrepreneur and wanting to manage the big apple’s economy .
jack was born in the ocean parkway sephardic community near coney island . jack’s great - grandparents came to ellis island as immigrants , living in the lower east side tenements . jack’s great - grandfather , moses hidary , worked as both a barber and teacher . in the 1920’s and 30’s jack’s grandfather jack hidary was peddling tablecloths and together with his son moe founded the family business that is seventy years old and continues to thrive in the garment district . his grandfather moved the family to brooklyn and co - founded the community that continues to thrive there today . jack was born at brookdale hospital in brownsville and he and his parents spent his first year living in his grandmother’s house . the family then shared a two - family home with their uncle and aunt before moving to their own house near ps 215 where jack’s father had attended school . jack grew up with strong role models and small business owners in a community where everyone had an open door .
jack hidary at the 65th annual artists and writers celebrity softball game held in east hampton on saturday . ( aug . 17 , 2013 ) photo credit : randee daddona
one of tech industry multimillionaire jack hidary ' s biggest hurdles in his quest to become mayor of new york city is playfully acknowledged on his campaign t - shirts .
tech mogul jack d . hidary “a kind of bloomberg 2 . 0 : socially progressive , fiscally reserved , and digitally savvy . ” and now that he’s ready to
in 1998 , jack and his brother murray took their company public when jack was 30 years old . from the tenements of the lower east side to the floor of the stock exchange is only a few minutes away and yet connects ninety years of the hidary family history .
election eve , midnight - the world champ judah friedlander and jack hidary , taking it to the streets . thank you to curry in a hurry for hosting us ! urltoken
the hidary family’s interest in acral melanoma was spurred by the discovery and successful treatment of the family’s patriarch , david j . hidary .
he may not be front - page news , but former tech entrepreneur jack hidary says he ' s got a plan to make new york city the world ' s leading tech center .
“jack hidary’s candidacy puts the leadership of the sephardic community in a bind , ” said one sephardic communal insider , who asked not to be identified to protect ongoing relationships . “while the sophisticated contingent of the leadership understands that endorsing jack hidary is a futile effort , some other powerful and influential community leaders… see a sephardic candidate as a possibly powerful representative of the community . ”
in 1995 , established earthweb a company dedicated to the needs of tech professionals . jack co - founded the company with murray hidary and nova spivack . jack led the company from its inception through three rounds of investment and then its ipo . under jack’s leadership , earthweb acquired dice . com , a website that connects users with jobs , and other sites dedicated to the needs of it professionals . as chairman and ceo of the public company , jack continued to grow the company and engage with shareholders , customers and analysts . ( nyse : dhx )
jack is the oldest of four brothers and a sister , mariel hidary , who was tragically killed at the age of 23 in a traffic accident in 2006 . in jack’s community , it’s family first : the first - born is trained to be a leader and take care of the family . surrounded by strong role models , jack learned the importance of public service . he saw best practices and started bringing them to other communities .
a screenshot from jack hidary’s blog shows him with then - chancellor joel klein at east side community high school in 2010 during the kickoff of national lab day , a science program he launched . hidary is exploring the possibility of running for mayor as an independent .
jack hidary filed papers this week with the city’s campaign finance board signaling an intention to receive city matching funds in a political campaign . he has also formed a political action committee , hidary for nyc inc , and someone registered the url urltoken just days ago .
in 1995 , jack followed in his family’s entrepreneurial footsteps and established earthweb a company dedicated to the needs of tech professionals . jack co - founded the company with his brother murray hidary and friend nova spivack . jack led the company from its inception through three rounds of investment and then its ipo on nasdaq . under jack’s leadership , earthweb acquired dice . com , a website that connects users with jobs , and other sites dedicated to the needs of it professionals . as chairman and ceo of the public company , jack continued to grow the company and engage with shareholders , customers and analysts . after running the public company for more than three years , jack handed off to a new ceo . the team later restructured the company , took it private and then took it public on the nyse as dice holdings .
jack hidary - on october 4 , 2011 , jack hidary , the well known energy entreprenaur spoke to our new york clean energy forum on ' the gamechanger : china’s unstoppable clean energy exports ' . combining his considerable expertise in finance , science , technology , jack ' s speech focused on china ' s master business plan every five years . that plan , coupled with the enormity of china’s population , landmass , and financial resources , puts a footprint on every country and every major business in this global economy .
in the 1920’s and 30’s jack’s grandfather jack hidary was peddling tablecloths and together with his son moe founded the family business that is seventy years old and continues to thrive in the garment district . his grandfather moved the family to brooklyn and co - founded the community that continues to thrive there today . jack was born at brookdale hospital in brownsville and he and his parents spent his first year living in his grandmother’s house . the family then shared a two - family home with their uncle and aunt before moving to their own house near ps 215 where jack’s father had attended school . jack grew up with strong role models and small business owners in a community where everyone had an open door .
jack hidary , a senior adviser at google x labs and also founder and chairman of us - based samba energy , speaking at emtech india 2016 in new delhi . photo : ramesh pathania / mint
jack hidary , a well - connected tech millionaire , thinks he has a shot at being elected mayor of new york city . but his dark horse quest may tear brooklyn’s syrian jewish community in two .
jack hidary built his career as an entrepreneur in the finance and technology sectors and is currently focused on clean energy technology and policy . he co - founded vista research in 2001 as an independent financial research company serving institutional investors . jack sold vista to the standard & poor ' s division of mcgraw - hill in april of 2005 .
an unknown , dot - com millionaire is jumping into the already packed mayor ' s race . homecrest native jack hidary is running as an independent , following a career path similar to his idol mike bloomberg .
running on his own ticket also puts hidary at a disadvantage , says miringoff .
performed by : ethel & murray hidary at the crest theater , los angeles .
loeser distanced himself from hidary today . “i’ve offered my ideas to several candidates running for mayor and several have taken me up on them , ” he said . “jack is a great person , but i am not working for him . ”
he is also a philanthropist . according to the website of his foundation , called the jack d . hidary foundation , begun in 2001 , his philanthropy aims “to catalyze scalable , self - sustaining programs in clean energy and economic development . ”
ask members of new york city’s political class about what they think of jack hidary , and the response is usually an uncomfortable silence , followed by a bit of fumbling , as if they were getting hit with a pop quiz they hadn’t prepared for .
in 2001 hidary co - founded vista research with his brother jack hidary . the firm pioneered the field of expert network research providers , catering to top - tier investment funds . vista research provides hedge fund and asset managers with access to an extensive network of experts in industries including technology , media , telecommunications , energy , aerospace and healthcare .
on some issues facing the next mayor , hidary ' s views are not fully formed .
hidary said his entrepreneurship has given him the opportunity to learn about job creation and education .
jack d . hidary , a wealthy and well - connected technology executive , has lingered around the edges of the new york city mayor’s race for weeks , quietly talking up the possibility of a bloomberg - style bid that seemed quixotic and half - baked .
mr . hidary is the executive vice president of earthweb , a business portal for the information and technology industries , which he co - founded in 1994 with his older brother , jack , who is chief executive officer . as a student at columbia university , jack hidary had developed a computer network , columbianet . later , when he was working at the national institutes of health , he talked with little brother murray about the rwandan refugees . they decided to use the internet to publicize the refugees’ plight and created reliefnet . newsweek wrote them up . “we realized this was the future , ” said murray hidary .
though he lives in manhattan and doesn’t attend synagogue regularly , hidary’s syrian roots run deep . his father , david hidary , is a powerful community leader who , with his brothers , runs m . hidary & co . inc . , a privately held apparel firm . a cousin runs hidrock realty , a real estate investment firm . hidary’s brother , rabbi richard hidary , was recently hired as the distinguished rabbinic fellow of congregation shearith israel , a prominent sephardic synagogue in manhattan .
hidary’s strategy for attracting investment in technology companies and growing businesses is to reduce taxes on investments .
the brooklyn - born hidary attended columbia university before launching a successful website for job - seekers .
“jack represents new ideas and new technology — these are the frontiers of the economy and what nyc needs to excel in to create jobs , improve education , and manage the city in a complex world , ” said nova spivack , a former business partner who has known hidary for nearly two decades . “jack also cares deeply about education , the environment and job growth . i think he has the right combination of innovation and concern for the little guy that nyc needs . where other candidates represent big money , jack is an independent who believes in the best ideas , regardless of whose ideas they are . ”
jack serves on several boards including bt global services and trickle up . a frequent keynote speaker , he has presented at venues including the business schools of yale and columbia .
the fast - talking hidary rattled off his accomplishments and ideas - - and asked questions , too . quinn said he was surprised that hidary wanted his advice on
how to attract younger voters .
hidary attended new york university ( nyu ) between 1989 and 1993 and majored in music and composition .
daily news : the mayor ' s race is already overcrowded . what makes you stand out ? jack hidary : i am the best candidate for the job . i am the only candidate who combines business experience , building companies and creating jobs along with 15 years of public service .
jack hidary is a very nice man who speaks in complete sentences and seems bright enough . he also has absolutely no qualifications whatsoever to be mayor of new york city . well , no qualifications other than the fact that he himself is very rich and also has lots of very rich friends .
murray hidary left the company in january 2001 , but continued to serve on the board through april 2002 .
murray hidary and jack hidary founded iamplify in 2005 . iamplify is a web - based content publisher and syndication network for professionals in a broad range of fields . the site features simple tools for use by specialists to distribute their media . users range from individuals to large corporations . iamplify has established prominent partnerships with bloomberg , david allen , yoga journal , marianne williamson , condé nast’s golf digest , and eckhart tolle .
both catsimatidis and hidary court comparisons to mayor bloomberg , generally praising the administration of the often - controversial politician .
hidary only announced his candidacy on wednesday but said he is well - known in some communities across the city .
if he wins , then , hidary’s will be the first mayoralty won on the strength of malian taxi drivers .
hidary , however , said that he sees his community’s insularity as more or less a thing of the past .
you are invited to attend a musical evening with murray hidary and the mindtravel orchestra with remarks by dr . dean ornish
in 2006 nyu awarded murray hidary the distinguished service award . the text of his commencement acceptance speech is available here .
hidary’s invisibility is partly by design , said joe trippi , the former howard dean consigliere who is advising the campaign .
in addition , the hidary foundation has funded robotics teams at various schools and have arranged for their participation in us first .
hidary did not respond to an emailed inquiry sent to a spokesman about his position on the nypd’s controversial muslim surveillance program .
the key distinguishing fact between our opponents on the republican side , though they do share similarities in the business world , is that they don ' t have the nonprofit experience that jack does ,
joseph said .
some in the syrian community have given early support to hidary’s candidacy . a brunch fundraiser held in the syrian summer retreat in deal , n . j . , at a seaside bungalow of real estate investor joe cayre , raised $ 350 , 000 , according to hidary . that represents three - quarters of the $ 450 , 000 hidary said that his campaign has brought in .
dn : you are a brooklyn boy from ocean parkway near avenue s . how have your roots helped to shape your mayoral goals ? jh : growing up in a community with immigrants , the people around me all served as role models . my grandfather , jack hidary , would meet with people who are struggling and give them no - interest loans .
murray hidary ( born august 30 , 1971 in brooklyn , new york ) is a composer , fine art photographer and entrepreneur .
hidary paints himself as a pro - business candidate , comparing himself to billionaire michael bloomberg , the incumbent mayor , whom he says he admires . in his campaign announcement media blitz , hidary has touted his ties to the tech community and his entrepreneurial experience .
“‘you never really achieve manhood until you’re successful in business’ is the hidary family motto , ” said mr . hidary . raised in what he described as a “very closed - off community” near coney island , in a large orthodox household , the hidary children are expected to have jewish spouses . but mr . hidary said that , for him , religion was not a priority . “mom , please look away , ” he joked . people call him daily to fix him up ; he’s declared a moratorium on blind dates .
what : a night of wonderful music featuring murray hidary , the world - class mindtravel orchestra , and remarks by dr . dean ornish
hidary launched what is now urltoken in 1995 and it was at one point a publicly traded company , according to his official bio .
back home in brooklyn , however , the hidary family are leaders in one of new york’s most insular and politically conservative ethnic enclaves .
jack is the founder and chairman of samba energy , a leading marketplace for commercial solar projects and financing . samba’s marketplace has driven down the cost of commercial solar and thus increased the roi for companies using the market for their solar programs .
in 2009 murray hidary re - entered the expert network industry with his most recent endeavor : primary insight . the hidary group backed a management buyout of primary insight from jp morgan led by former colleagues , david derose and leighton thomas . jp morgan retains a minority interest .
washington - - ( business wire ) - - the melanoma research alliance ( mra ) , the leading private funder of melanoma research , and the hidary foundation , the philanthropic arm of technology entrepreneur jack hidary and his family , today announced a new research program with researchers at five institutions comprising a groundbreaking study of the genetics of acral melanoma . two team science awards will fund new work at kaiser permanente research institute , memorial sloan - kettering cancer center , translational genomics research institute ( tgen ) , university of california san francisco ( ucsf ) and vanderbilt university . the awards total $ 1 million and are jointly awarded by the mra and the hidary foundation .
“there is a clear message from the voters : they are not satisfied with the current set of choices , ” mr . hidary said .
hidary , like bloomberg in 2001 , bills himself as an alternative to career politicians . he envisions his mayoralty as a sequel to bloomberg .
and so when he approaches some of the major issues facing the city , hidary can come across like bloomberg , with a few caveats .
in new york city , he was a leading proponent of switching over the taxi fleet to high mileage hybrids . jack serves as chairman of smarttransportation . org , a non - profit dedicated to promoting clean energy and transportation policy in the us .
one candidate who also might bring more technology discussion to the debates is technology entrepreneur jack hidary , an independent candidate . though he has run some online and tv ads , he wrote in an e - mail to supporters friday that
despite our requests , the polling firms have not included us in their polls . and without being in the polls , we cannot enter the debates .
jack is the co - founder and chairman of samba energy , a leading marketplace for commercial solar projects and financing . samba’s marketplace has driven down the cost of commercial solar and thus increased the roi for companies using the market for their solar programs .
the scf , however , has not backed the homegrown candidate . “jack hidary comes from a very well respected family whose work on behalf of our community is immeasurable and appreciated , ” executive director avi spitzer wrote in an emailed statement . “ [ w ] e have not yet taken a position in the mayor’s race . currently , we are holding off on any endorsements until early september . ”
jack advocated for the use of high - mileage vehicles as new york city taxicabs in 2005 with david yassky . david was a nyc council member at the time and today is the chairman of the tlc . jack and david successfully engaged drivers who are owner - operators who now save thousands of dollars each year driving high - mpg cars as well as leading fleet owners . today , the majority of the 13 , 500 taxis are high - mpg vehicles in nyc helping these small businesses generate more income .
hidary is a member of several philanthropic boards . his continued love of music led him to ethel , a contemporary “postclassical” string quartet , for whom he now serves as chairman of the board . ethel has also performed original works by murray hidary including spinning still in 2006 and his piano quintet in 2015 . additionally , hidary is a board member for four way books , a publisher of poetry and short fiction by both emerging and established writers .
the political strategist joe trippi , who oversaw howard dean’s democratic run for the white house , will be on mr . hidary ' s campaign team .
“it makes it much more difficult for hidary to make his message , if you already have another prominent businessman in the race , ” he explains .
i like his green taxi initiative ,
quinn said . in 2005 , hidary created an advocacy group to successfully lobby to allow hybrid taxicabs .
hidary made big bucks off his job - search website , dice . com , and now heads an eponymous foundation focused on educating kids about technology .
hidary’s work is also part of art pic’s collection of available pieces in los angeles , ca . through art pic , hidary’s photographs have been featured in movies and television including fox’s house , cbs’s numbers and nbc’s joey , and films such as my best friend’s girl and unhitched . hidary’s work also appeared in a revlon advertisement and a nikon television ad campaign featuring ashton kutcher , as well as the flagship ralph lauren store in new york , ny .
unlike all the democratic primary candidates , hidary said that he supports publicly funded vouchers to fund private religious school tuitions , a position popular with orthodox jews that is dismissed as impractical by most orthodox advocates . hidary said that any voucher system he backed would require that schools receiving voucher funds allow unionized teachers .
committed to community and philanthropic causes , jack has received several industry and community awards as well as being recognized as a global leader of tomorrow at the world economic forum , davos . he is also a member of the council on foreign relations and the clinton global initiative .
mr . hidary , who played piano and violin as a child , recounted a conversation with the jazz legend herbie hancock , whose support he is courting .
on tues . , sept . 3 , my artsedtechnyc meetup group held its monthly gathering , hosted by the centre for social innovation in new york city . tech entrepreneur and independent nyc mayoral candidate jack hidary was the guest , and about 40 people representing the arts , education and technology sectors gathered to listen to an extensive , hourlong , up - close - and - personal conversation with hidary , moderated by yours truly . we covered , among other things , how the next mayor could fund the arts more effectively and , equally important , how to make our school system more fair and innovative .
he also took a shot at hidary heading to crowdfunding site crowdtilt to raise $ 50 , 000 to open his campaign office ( a goal he surpassed ) .
hidary said his time is now .
we ' re in it to win it , so i ' ll just focus right now on this race .
hidary is a senior adviser at google x labs and also founder and chairman of us - based samba energy , a marketplace for commercial solar projects and financing .
“i said , ‘my commitment to you , herbie , is to bring jazz and music to every school in new york city , ’ ” mr . hidary recalled .
stu loeser , who resigned as bloomberg’s press secretary last year and now works as an independent consultant , has advised hidary about his bid , according to a source .
hidary also stands out as a longtime evangelist of high - tech . at columbia university , where he studied philosophy and neuroscience , hidary partnered with a dean to create columbianet , a campuswide intranet , years before the internet became a mass medium . he papered the campus with fliers that read ,
get email . it works .
murray hidary began his business career in 1994 at the age of 23 when he co - founded earthweb with his older brother , jack hidary , and nova spivack . while earthweb was one of the first internet consulting companies , it shifted focus in 1997 when tristan louis was brought in to turn the company into an it information portal called developer . com . earthweb ' s initial public offering on november 11 , 1998 closed at us $ 48 . 69 per share , up 247 . 8 % from its opening price of $ 14 . at the time , earthweb ' s first - day return was among the largest in nasdaq history .
“we hit 1 , 000 - donor mark very , very quickly – probably in record time , ” says hidary . “we have a tremendously broad base supporting us . ”
what i want to do is build on mike bloomberg ' s success , but take it on a new direction , make it my own ,
hidary said .
on an august sunday , hidary marched in the dominican day parade and ran from curb to curb , chatting with revelers in the spanish he learned from his colombian mother .
hidary frequently cites his childhood in the ocean parkway section of brooklyn , near coney island , to emphasize his focus on creating jobs and small businesses in the four outer boroughs .
hidary recorded his first symphony in st . petersburg , russia in 2004 . entitled motion , it was performed by the st . petersburg philharmonic and conducted by paul alan levi .
both he and hidary point to google as the brightest star in the growing new york tech space ; the latter saying he intends to bring “the next 50 googles” to silicon alley .
hidary is , by all accounts , an underdog in this campaign . he entered the race late as an independent candidate , running against frontrunners like christine quinn and anthony weiner , who are regularly making national news ( whether they mean to or not ) . but hidary insists he has one advantage no other candidate has : a background as a successful tech entrepreneur .
hidary voiced his opposition for an nypd inspector general , but said the city needs to do a better job of fostering strong relations between the police and communities all across the city .
through it all , hidary has largely kept out of sight . when the daily beast asked last week if the candidate was holding any public events , the answer was “no . ”
in jack hidary’s world , millionaires and technology and data and stuff can make these fundamental conflicts vanish in a cloud of techocratic awesomeness . “when i’m mayor , ” he said at a penthouse fundraiser , “everyone gets a pair of google glasses ! ” his policy — especially on education — is a triumph of rich - people - and - technology - can - fix your problems - ism . no mention of anyone having to pay more or get less , just lots of talk about better management and technology .
“genetic sequencing has decreased significantly in cost and time and can now be used as a critical tool to investigate cancer , and based on our experiences in technology , we believe that whole exome and whole genome sequencing of larger sets of patients may be key to new breakthroughs in the fight against cancer , ” said jack hidary , chairman of the hidary foundation . “our partnership with the melanoma research alliance will advance this important work on melanoma . the key to genomic studies is not just sequencing , but the analysis of the data . these teams will focus on unraveling the genetic signature of this cancer , and this will extend their work to other cancers as we collectively build greater genomic capabilities . ”
i caught up with hidary after the event to talk more about his start - up days and why he believes entrepreneurship is such a crucial part of new york city ' s future .
hidary partnered with co - founder robert etropolsky , who is the entrepreneur that built fashion brand nanushka . givme is a private , location - based , photo - sharing app for friends .
jack studied philosophy and neuroscience at columbia university and was then awarded a stanley fellowship in clinical neuroscience at the national institutes of health ( nih ) . under the fellowship , he conducted research in functional neuroimaging using techniques such as positron emission tomography ( pet ) and functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fmri ) to study brain and disease states .
but the digital - friendly hidary , who keeps his own typepad blog and has written for the huffington post , says he turned to crowdfunding to demonstrate the “wide support” he’s received from voters .
hidary is financing his bid partly with his own fortune , whose size he would not disclose . he has collected enough donations to qualify for the city ' s matching funds program , his team said . his most recent finance board filings showed $ 432 , 118 in contributions , with donors ranging from homemakers and students to financiers . hidary ' s large extended family also chipped in .
still , hidary’s passions for business development , education reform , and the technology sector would make him an attractive candidate for people who believe bloomberg has been a strong leader for new york city .
jack has been particularly involved in issues of energy and transportation . he is chairman and co - founder of the freedom prize foundation , which provides monetary prizes to cities , schools and other entities that can most reduce their petroleum use . the freedom prizes were mandated by congress in the energy policy act of 2005 ( title x : 1008 ) .
as untrue as that message is , it’s present in other elements of our daily culture . for example : teach for america’s entire founding principle is that kids from elite colleges with five weeks training are de facto better teachers than people with years’ experience in difficult classrooms . the clinton global initiative is entirely based on the idea that rich western people can save poor people of color from themselves by throwing money at them and telling them how to fix their lives . jack hidary’s educational policy is that poor kids aren’t learning because they don’t have ipads .
with pressure on the publishing industry mounting hidary was one of the first to envision taking readers “beyond the book , ” and provide a platform for authors to forge a direct relationship with their audience .
“i’ve been speaking in every major [ syrian ] synagogue , ” hidary said . “the support has been great . the number of people across the board that have supported us has been tremendous . ”
jack studied philosophy and neuroscience at columbia university and was awarded a stanley fellowship in clinical neuroscience at the national institutes of health ( nih ) prior to his graduation . under the fellowship , he conducted research in functional neuroimaging using techniques such as positron emission tomography ( pet ) and functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fmri ) to study brain and disease states .
“this partnership with the hidary foundation underscores the need for further research into melanoma , and especially melanoma subtypes such as acral melanoma , in order to develop more effective treatment options for all melanoma patients . ”
with new york city facing an 8 . 4 % unemployment rate in july , both hidary and catsimatidis argue that their backgrounds in business make them the candidate most capable of bringing jobs to the big apple .
bloomberg spent $ 74 million for a 2001 victory as a republican . hidary is running on a ballot line he created , the jobs and education party , and his ad blitz will be far less extensive .
“i think that’s changing , ” hidary said . “the community now is really engaging in a very public way . ” he noted that syrian jews often cooperate with real estate industry publications like the real deal .
after reliefnet the hidary brothers started earthweb , which built web - sites for the metropolitan museum of art and other institutions eager to establish an on - line presence . mr . hidary describes earthnet as “the leading business - to - business portal for the it world” . the company does a lot of everything : providing content , hosting on - line community forums , e - commerce . in 1998 it went public .
hidary intends to run for mayor as an independent , according to three sources with knowledge of the bid . his entry would shake up a political race in which bloomberg’s staunchest supporters have found few inspiring candidates .
“well , for example , the community of malians in harlem , ” he said . “we engage with them because many of them are taxi drivers . we have a natural affinity because of my work on taxis . they recognize me and say , ‘jack , you are the one who helped us save $ 6 , 000 a year , every year , since 2005 . ”
campaign volunteer jesus salce , 55 , of woodside , queens , said he doubted hidary could actually win in november ,
but for the future , it ' s good for him to be out there .
“i haven’t had a steady girlfriend for a number of years , ” said mr . hidary “part of being a hopeless romantic makes it more difficult to find that . you’re always dreaming of that perfect person . ”
jack studied philosophy and neuroscience at columbia university and was awarded a stanley fellowship in clinical neuroscience at the national institutes of health ( nih ) . under the fellowship , he conducted research on the use of neural networks to model and analyze the data in functional neuroimaging using techniques such as positron emission tomography ( pet ) and functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fmri ) to study brain states .
afterward , he sought out potential supporters outside a temple of tech , the fifth avenue apple store . hidary made a lengthy pitch to frederick quinn , 23 , of the upper east side , a recent college graduate .
“there’s been a focus by the administration on a few corridors in manhattan and downtown brooklyn . coming from the outer part of the outer borough , bringing opportunity platforms out to the outer boroughs is core , ” says hidary .
that single - mindedness came through when hidary , a bachelor , was asked if he is in a relationship .
right now , my relationship is with this campaign and the people of new york ,
he replied .
hidary often reaches into his business and tech background for problem - solving ideas . at a mayoral forum on cultural sensitivity , he touted equal entrepreneurship opportunity as a way to curb tensions among the city ' s diverse communities .
high - tech evangelist republicans joe lhota , the former mta chairman , and john catsimatidis , a billionaire businessman , have also embraced much of the bloomberg legacy . but hidary ' s camp says his background sets him apart .
their influence goes beyond the syrian community . david hidary was on the board of uja - federation of new york , and other family members have served on the board of yeshivah of flatbush , both ashkenazi - dominated institutions .
the way to help communities that have less access to power and resources is to deploy fewer power and resources to the people who have lots . a political scheme that wants to lift people out of poverty must also deliver a structural account of power . that’s hard to do , and hard to talk about . it’s easy to say nice puffy things about technology . it’s easy to pose smiling in front of an attractive multiracial crowd . it’s easy to raise lots of money from rich people by telling them that they’re doing the good thing by giving money . jack hidary is an excellent representation of this insidious bullplop in action .
but as he prepares to officially unveil his candidacy on wednesday , a quest that once seemed fanciful has evolved into an unexpectedly serious operation , guided by a group of political heavyweights and underwritten by mr . hidary’s sizable bank account .
hidary , for his part , has no doubts about his run . “i’m the best - qualified person for the job , ” he told the forward . “i am not a career politician . the others are career politicians . they’ve
mr . hidary insists that he can draw on his ties to jewish voters , especially the sephardic community in outer brooklyn where he grew up , and to the city’s new army of technology workers to drum up enough votes in november .
in an interview , mr . trippi , the campaign adviser , returned again and again to the idea that new yorkers were unimpressed by their choices for mayor this year , and would be willing to give mr . hidary a chance .
citation : rumala bb , hidary j , ewool l , emdin c , scovell t ( 2011 ) tailoring science outreach through e - matching using a community - based participatory approach . plos biol 9 ( 3 ) : e1001026 . urltoken
still , when hidary blew into a flatiron district le pain quotidien on tuesday where the waiters know his name , he was cresting on a bit of good news . bill de blasio , the city’s public advocate and the most unapologetic liberal among the democratic frontrunners , had vaulted into the lead , according to a new poll . the prospect of de blasio or someone like him winning the democratic nomination is the best chance that hidary ( or someone like him ) has to win .
tucking in to an iced green tea and what he called “one of those chai pudding things , ” hidary explained that the rise of de blasio meant the voting public was dissatisfied with what they have seen so far of the existing field .
and hidary wants to be their candidate . to be another bloomberg , but without bloombergism . that is , not to carry the flag for party machine politics but not to finger - wag over large sodas or e - cigarettes , either .
yet hidary’s candidacy has annoyed members of the syrian establishment . major players in the low - key community have backed him . more pragmatic activists , however , had been looking forward to endorsing a candidate who has a better chance of winning .
as the mayoral season in new york city shifts into high gear — the primaries for the republican and democratic nominations is set for next tues . , sept . 10 — hidary spoke about the “circus” that the race has become . he also cited his intentional and maybe unusual under - the - radar campaign strategy . i was impressed with how fast hidary took a question and ran with it , making my job as moderator fairly easy . this guy has a lot of energy !
hidary’s internet profile is rudimentary at this point , including a lightly designed and irregularly updated blog and a website for his foundation . one entry on his typepad blog dated july 10 , 2012 , is titled “ disrupting the education system . ”
while both catsimatidis and hidary say voters are looking for a candidate with a strong business background , kevin brennan , the senior analyst at national journal’s hotline , says both contenders are currently an extra - long shot to become the city’s next mayor .
hidary , whose tech - jobs career site urltoken was acquired by private equity firms general atlantic and quadrangle group in 2005 for an estimated $ 200 million , also praises bloomberg’s economic leadership , citing his guidance through the financial crisis and superstorm sandy .
“i have unique among all the candidates…the combination of both business experience – building companies in the growth sector of our economy , but also the public service – the focus on education and helping other people start their own businesses , ” hidary told scott .
hidary , who comes from brooklyn’s wealthy sephardic jewish community , has a biography that bears several similarities to bloomberg’s . a serial entrepreneur , his first major venture was the technology company earthweb / dice , which offers job postings for the information technology industry .
outside of hidary’s business and artistic pursuits , he travels extensively . he has also trained for and completed three marathons : new york city 2007 , new york city 2008 , and london 2007 . he has a passion for the environment and supports alternative energy .
while hidary has said repeatedly that he’s the only candidate in the crowded field with the background to attract companies in a growth economy , given his technology experience , catsimatidis argues his higher profile and 40 + years running major companies puts him ahead of the pack .
with no runaway favorites and a campaign season dominated by anthony weiner’s sexting scandals , hidary says he decided to enter the race late in the game due to a lack of viable candidates . but political experts say his late entry is a high hurdle to overcome .
in a new york times article published saturday , hidary says that
what ' s fascinating about this election right now is that there ' s really a vacuum in terms of core , concrete ideas . that ' s the vacuum we intend to fill .
“we decided that now was the time to come into the race because people now understand what their choice is . they’ve seen what’s out there , there are no more candidates coming in . now we’re coming in today to offer people a choice , ” said hidary .
hidary , who announced his candidacy in a respectfully reported new york times story on july 16 , is a scion of one of new york’s most powerful syrian jewish clans . he has already raised more than $ 300 , 000 from syrian jews for his mayoral campaign .
jack hidary shares his vision for the cities of the future where everyone is able to unleash a personal potential , a city that empower each and one of us to through collaboration and multidisciplinary learning . in the spirit of ideas worth spreading , tedx is a program of local , self - organized events that bring people together to share a ted - like experience . at a tedx event , tedtalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group . these local , self - organized events are branded tedx , where x = independently organized ted event . the ted conference provides general guidance for the tedx program , but individual tedx events are self - organized . * ( * subject to certain rules and regulations )
in 1995 , hidary and his brother murray launched earthweb , a company that provided tutorials and resource directories to the tech community . in 1999 , a year after going public , earthweb acquired dice . com , now one of the country ' s leading tech career sites .
hidary , who volunteered for the obama campaign in florida and pennsylvania in 2008 , said he believes that with advances in technology he will be able to micro - target his voters and won’t need to carpet - bomb airwaves and mailboxes in the same way that bloomberg did .
“he was right at that time , ” hidary said . “this is a different year . this year you have a group of candidates who are a throwback to machine politics . and you really didn’t have that kind of bevy of candidates when mike bloomberg was running . ”
the hidary foundation catalyzes positive change in several sectors . the foundation has a focus on promoting innovative k - 12 educational programs , particularly those that focus on science , technology , engineering and mathematics ( stem ) and those that use project - based learning approaches . the foundation has also supported the promotion of entrepreneurship both through programs that support microfinance focusing on low - income individuals who wish to start companies as well as youth entrepreneurship . the members of the hidary family are all entrepreneurs in fields ranging from technology and clean energy to real estate , fashion and education .
reaching out to voters
we ' re going to be the word - of - mouth campaign ,
hidary said . trippi said in an interview that tv ads will be supplemented with databased targeting of likely voters through hulu , which streams movies and tv shows , and google .
hidary is setting himself up as an alternative to a crowded field , assembling heavy hitters to get his message across : howard dean campaign manager joe trippi , bloomberg finance lawyer kenneth a . gross , clinton media strategist richard strauss , and chris christie adviser campaigngrid have all signed on . since he’s running as an independent , hidary figures he has until the primaries in september before people really start following the race in earnest . so until then the plan is to raise funds and support , build his team , and ( presumably ) keep encouraging the “bloomberg 2 . 0” image in the
hidary told the forward that he had been under the impression that the scf would not be making an endorsement in the mayoral race . the scf is a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) , a not - for - profit category under the federal tax code that allows it to make endorsements .
“with all the attention being paid to anthony weiner and his scandals , it’s going to be hard for hidary to gain traction , because there’s so much coverage on the other candidates who have been running for months and have been in the public eye in new york city for years , ” says brennan .
as an independent , the comparisons continue . hidary , who founded the tech career site urltoken and now runs samba energy “is offering himself up as a bloomberg for the post - bloomberg era , with a dose of personal charisma and charm the current mayor lacked when he entered politics in 2001 , ” the