Back in October of 2015, Bon Appétit was the first food service company to make a commitment to source Fair Trade tea in our cafés nationwide. Nearly ten years later, we are as committed as ever to continue shedding light on the enhanced social responsibility and transparency that the Fair Trade label provides.
Our companywide switch came as a reaction to the unjust labor conditions found in the global tea industry. Tea plants thrive in warm, humid climates that aren’t found in North America, so almost all of the tea we purchase is imported from abroad. And while we have long been working to improve labor conditions for farmworkers domestically, there is also a pressing need to focus on unfair conditions for workers internationally. In India for instance, tea plantation workers have reported issues of forced labor, gender discrimination, low wages, and high rates of child labor.
Our partner, Numi, provides us with assorted herbal and caffeinated Fair Trade Certified teas, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and community development premiums to support health, education, and infrastructure projects. They work closely with farm partners around the world, sourcing 130+ organic ingredients from more than 34 countries, guaranteeing traceable ingredients and positive outcomes for tea workers and their communities.
As our guests enjoy thousands of cups of more ethically-sourced tea every year, we are grateful for the confidence and transparency that our green, black, oolong, and rooibos teas (and everything in between) were made with care, equity, and fairness.