Level Ground Trading

Artisan Organization: Level Ground Trading

Countries: Bolivia, Peru, Ethiopia, Tanzania & D.R. Congo, Colombia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Uganda 

Inspired by the work of Ten Thousand Villages, Level Ground wanted to see the principles of Fair Trade applied to foods we consume every day.


Their first Fair Trade initiative was buying coffee from a cooperative in Colombia. Since then Trade relationships were formed in Bolivia, Peru, Ethiopia, Tanzania & D.R. Congo. A Colombian company was formed to produce dried fruit and cane sugar and to provide positive employment for displaced women. Trade relationships were started with; small-scale tea growers in India, heirloom rice farmers and coconut oil producers in the Philippines and finally with spice farmers in Sri Lanka & vanilla growers in Uganda.

Fair Trade premiums are directed to different projects based on the needs of the farmers; healthcare benefits, school scholarships, agricultural technical training, co-op projects etc.