Sometimes called “true cinnamon,” ceylon cinnamon comes from a tropical tree’s inner bark. Sri Lankan farmers harvest during the rainy season when the bark is more pliable; then it’s dried and curled into flaky, sticklike quills. Fair Trade premiums enable farmers to buy new equipment, increasing productivity and ensuring a better livelihood. Try: Frontier Cinnamon Ground Organic Fair Trade Certified
Ginger
Known for its gnarled and twisted root, ginger’s custard-yellow hue lends a spicy complexity to dishes both savory and sweet. Portions of Fair Trade USA certified ginger profits are used to build bathrooms and community centers for villages in farming cooperatives. Find it in: Simply Organic Spice Cookie Mix
Nutmeg
Native to Indonesia’s spice islands, but also fair-trade certified in India, this warm, pungent, and spicy seed comes from a fruit that looks like an apricot. In 2011, the United States imported more than 17,000 pounds of nutmeg, accounting for 7 percent of all fair trade usa herbs and spices. Some proceeds provide microloans for local small businesses. Try: Spicely Fair Trade Organic Whole Nutmeg
Vanilla
This intensely fragrant, orchid-flower pod has a laborintensive production process. Each orchid is hand-pollinated, and each bean is individually picked, cured, and fermented before it morphs into the black pod found in stores. Fair Trade has helped Ugandan vanilla farmers establish health care facilities. Find it in: Sweetriot Dark Chocolate With Kickin' coconut
Discover the wealth of responsibly produced Fair Trade USA spices from around the world.
