2026 Equal Exchange Summit
June 12, 2026 at Wheaton College in Norton, MA
Let’s reconnect and reignite our shared purpose as a community! This year’s Equal Exchange Summit is more than a gathering—it’s also a celebration of 40 years of changing trade. For four decades, we’ve been working together to build an alternative trade model rooted in solidarity, democracy, and fairness. Together, we’ve connected coffee, chocolate, tea, bananas, and other fairly traded foods from democratically organized small farmer co-ops in the Global South with Citizen-Consumers in the North through Equal Exchange’s worker-owned cooperative—proving that another way of doing business is not only possible, but powerful.
As we mark this 40th anniversary milestone, we do so amid real challenges: historically high coffee and cacao prices, unpredictable tariffs and trade policies, and increasing corporate consolidation in our food system. Join us for a dynamic gathering of farmers, worker-owners, customers, organizers, and partners as we reflect on four decades of impact, confront today’s realities, and chart the next chapter of our solidarity economy—because in a world that urgently needs alternatives, our movement matters more than ever.
Last year’s Summit at Wheaton College brought together bold ideas, meaningful conversations, and a community committed to growth. Grateful for the moments that inspired us then—and excited for what’s ahead.
Calling all who want to
build a better food system
Registration is closed.
Questions? Email Danielle and Frankie at organizing@equalexchange.coop or call (774) 776-7366.
Wheaton College, 26 E. Main Street, Norton, MA 02766
Campus Map
Parking
Lot 2, day parking
Lot 4, overnight parking
2026 Schedule of Events
Thursday, June 11
Dorm Check-in
3:00pm–10:00pm, Pine Hall
Please let us know if you cannot arrive in time. We will have staff available until 10:30pm for late check-in upon request.
Welcome Dinner & Drinks
6:00pm–7:00pm, Chase Dining Hall
Drinks until 9:30pm
Interfaith Social Hour
6:45pm-7:45pm, Chase Dining Hall Square
American Agitators Film Showing
8:00pm–9:15pm, Watson Art Center, Experimental Theater
Friday, June 12
Dorm Check-in
7:30am–8:45am, Pine Hall
Breakfast
7:30am–8:45am, Chase Dining Hall
Welcome
9:00am–9:30am, Chase Dining Hall
Keynote Address: Santiago Paz López
9:30am–10:45am, Chase Dining Hall
Workshop Session 1
11:00am–12:00pm, Meneely Classrooms
Independence Matters with The Cornucopia Institute (Meneely 102)
Industry Consolidation: A Closer Look at Your Options in the Grocery Aisle (Meneely 105)
Small Farmer Tea: Building an Alternative Model From Crop to Cup (Meneely 207)
From the U.S. to Canada, Equal Exchange and La Siembra Forge a New Co-op Model (Meneely 209)
Ascension’s Lutheran Fair Trade Ministry: 25 Years of Faith and Justice (Meneely 307)
40 Years of Fair Trade: Reflections and Lessons (Meneely 301)
Lunch
12:15pm–1:15pm, Chase Dining Hall
Workshop Session 2
1:30pm–2:30pm, Meneely Classrooms
Civil Rights and Land Ownership: A Story of New Communities
(Meneely 102)P6: Cooperation among Cooperatives (Meneely 105)
Small Farmer Tea: Building an Alternative Model From Crop to Cup (Meneely 207)
From the U.S. to Canada, Equal Exchange and La Siembra Forge a New Co-op Model (Meneely 209)
The Small Farmer Fund: Investing Beyond Trade (Meneely 307)
40 Years of Fair Trade: Reflections and Lessons (Meneely 301)
Workshop Session 3
3:00pm–4:00pm, Meneely Classrooms
From Crisis to Care: How We Can Support Survivors of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Meneely 102)
P6: Cooperation among Cooperatives (Meneely 105)
The Work of Generations: A Cooperative Story of Banana Growing *Presented in Spanish with translation (Meneely 209)
The Small Farmer Fund: Investing Beyond Trade (Meneely 307)
Equal Exchange and the Midterm Elections (Meneely 301)
State of Equal Exchange
4:15pm–5:15pm, Chase Dining Hall
Dinner
6:00pm–7:00pm, Chase Dining Hall
Party
7:00pm–11:00pm, Chase Dining Hall
Saturday, June 13
Check-out
7:30am–8:45am, Pine Hall
Breakfast
7:30am–8:45am, Chase Dining Hall
Roastery Tour Optional
8:30am, Equal Exchange HQ
50 United Drive, West Bridgewater, MADue to the high level of interest in the roaster tour, we have added three timeslots with 30 spaces per slot. If you would like to sign up for a roaster tour, please do so at the check-in desk on Thursday or Friday. It will be first-come, first-served.
Slot 1: 8:30am Shuttle leaves 8am, Wheaton parking lot 2
Slot 2: 9:30am Shuttle leaves 9am, Wheaton parking lot 2
Slot 3: 10:30am Shuttle leaves 10am, Wheaton parking lot 2
Overnight accommodation will be provided in Wheaton dorms for anyone wishing to stay on campus Thursday and/or Friday nights.
There is no charge for the event or accommodations this year.
Keynote Address: Santiago Paz López
We are excited to announce our keynote speaker for the 2026 Equal Exchange Summit: Santiago Paz López. Santiago is the Commercial Manager of Norandino Cooperative (formerly Cepicafe) located in the Piura region of Peru. What started out as a small group of coffee growers in the mountains of northern Peru has grown into a thriving cooperative that has been a partner of Equal Exchange for almost thirty years.
For the last forty years, Equal Exchange has built a better food system by helping organized groups of small farmers gain economic independence and greater political power in their regions. Norandino Cooperative is perhaps the strongest example of this approach since our trading partnership began and Santiago has been a key leader in this organization since its inception. He is one of the most visionary forces for social development we have ever worked with. In addition to solidifying the co-op’s market position in coffee, Norandino has expanded to bring co-op representation and infrastructure to sugar and cacao growers in northern Peru. They have built processing plants for both and now control the first step processing (cocoa powder, butter and “liquor”) instead of relying on private players whose primary interest is not the farmers.
At the summit, Santiago will reflect on past successes and failures in this movement, as well as some of the biggest challenges they face in the coming decades.
“I believe the market is the most important. You must start from the reality of your producers. Most of them live in extreme poverty. The most important thing for them is to generate an income. They are busy surviving from day to day: what do we eat today, what do we eat tomorrow. The market can change matters.”
Workshops
Independence Matters with The Cornucopia Institute
MENEELY 102 | WORKSHOP SESSION 1
Presented by Melody Morrell, Executive Director, Cornucopia Institute
The Cornucopia Institute is a non-profit consumer education and watchdog organization. Through brand research and industry investigation, Cornucopia identifies and elevates authentic organic foods and farmers. Tools like dairy and egg scorecards help consumers decode the supermarket wall of organic brands. Come hear from Melody about current campaigns like “Independence Matters” and the “Who Owns Organic” booklet which highlight independent organic brands; an activist response to Phil Howard’s “Who Owns Organic” chart. Cornucopia is helping light the path for citizen-consumers toward independent and cooperative businesses and brands with integrity.
•••
Industry Consolidation: A Closer Look at Your Options in the Grocery Aisle
MENEELY 105 | WORKSHOP SESSION 1
Presented by Nova Wetherwax, Director of Merchandising at Sacramento Co-op
Every month seems to bring news of yet another merger or acquisition in the corporate food system. More and more popular independent brands are gobbled up along the way.
What is a conscientious shopper to do? How many brands are independent or cooperative? How many brands are structured in a way that there are guarantees that they won’t be bought? How does Sacramento Co-op try to balance supporting independent brands and their products and have market leaders which are usually consolidated products? What do members say they want and which products do they actually buy?
In this workshop, Nova Weatherwax, a natural foods veteran, will help you navigate your way to maximize impact in supporting local and independent farms and food producers. Learn how you can still influence the world you want to live in with the everyday choices you make.
•••
Small Farmer Tea: Building an Alternative Model From Crop to Cup
MENEELY 207 | WORKSHOP SESSION 1 & 2
Presented by Peter Fawcett, Equal Exchange UK, and Leif Rawson-Ahern, Equal Exchange US
Despite tea being the second most widely consumed beverage in the world after water, little is known about the crop. Small-farmer tea is still exceedingly rare in an industry dominated by plantations, while the people who grow, tend, and harvest the crop are rarely seen as skilled farmers, but rather as generalized labor, most of which is performed by women. For decades, Equal Exchange has been working to support a farmer-led alternative to this industry norm.
Join us to learn more about the industry, our trade partners, and the exciting new development of taking tea blending and packing in-house at Equal Exchange UK. We will share the journey of building our tea operation, show footage of the machine in action, and discuss the significance of this activity to the broader Equal Exchange ecosystem of alternative traders as we find new ways to advance our shared mission together.
•••
From the U.S. to Canada, Equal Exchange and La Siembra Forge a New Co-op Model
MENEELY 209 | WORKSHOP SESSION 1 & 2
Presented by Kelly Storie, President of La Siembra, and Nicole Vitello, Vice-President of Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange and La Siembra have been sister co-ops and allies for 25 years, working across borders in cocoa and chocolate supply chains and alternative trade. A decade ago, when private equity came calling for La Siembra, Equal Exchange answered with our capital to keep the business in the hands of the Canadian worker-owners. Over the past year, we have taken this collaboration to a higher level. Members of La Siembra Cooperative are now also worker-owners of the global Equal Exchange cooperative, joining fellow co-owners in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the former Oke Banana, which is now Equal Exchange’s Produce Division. Together, we now manage supply chains in six commodities—coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, fruits, and nuts with manufacturing partners that empower small-scale farmers worldwide. In this workshop, you will learn the nuts and bolts of this merger and hear our vision of what our shared future might look like.
•••
Ascension’s Lutheran Fair Trade Ministry: 25 Years of Faith and Justice
MENEELY 307 | WORKSHOP SESSION 1
Presented by Carol Bjelland, Ascension Fair Trade Ministry Leader
The seeds of an idea to bring Fair Trade to Ascension Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks, CA, were planted in the Fall of 2001. Those seeds have grown and flourished. In this workshop, Carol Bjelland will share the history of Fair Trade at Ascension and current highlights of the Ministry as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, including the many ways the Ministry connects and engages with the children, youth & adults of Ascension Congregation as well as the students, families, and staff of its School and Early Childhood Center. Ascension’s Fair Trade Ministry “resides” on Fair Trade Lane, home to shelves filled with chocolate, tea, coffee, nuts, dried fruit, and olive oil from Equal Exchange and other Ministry Fair Trade partners, and colorful art welcoming all to this little place at the intersection of Faith and Fair Trade.
•••
40 Years of Fair Trade: Reflections and Lessons
MENEELY 301 | WORKSHOP SESSION 1 & 2
Presented by Rink Dickinson, Co-Founder & Co-Director, and Rob Everts, Co-Director Emeritus
On May 1, Equal Exchange celebrated 40 years of building an alternative to the prevailing practices of international trade, a model steeped in inequity. With inspiration from European alternative trade organizations (ATO’s), we began purchasing coffee, and later many other commodities on recognized “fair trade” terms with cooperatives of small scale farmers.
In this workshop, we will look closely at the role cooperatives have played in building alternative trade, what we have achieved, where we have failed, and we will try to identify the key elements and decisions that have enabled Equal Exchange to maintain independence and prevail on our own terms in an often hostile capitalist market.
•••
Civil Rights and Land Ownership: A Story of New Communities
MENEELY 102 | WORKSHOP SESSION 2
Presented by Paul Jones, Vice Chair of New Communities at Cypress Pond
When you own the land you farm, you decide what to plant, when to harvest, and which maintenance methods to use. More importantly, you’re the one who controls your own livelihood. For Black farmers in the United States, land ownership is tied to freedom. But systematic racial discrimination has pushed many out of agriculture. Equal Exchange’s partners at New Communities, who supply our fair trade pecans, know the power of land—and these challenges—firsthand. Learn about the rich and storied history of the movement to secure land rights and agricultural livelihoods for Black farmers in Southwest Georgia since the 1960s.
Come hear about New Communities from Paul and get a chance to ask questions and reflect on the ongoing work to sell these pecans under the Equal Exchange brand.
•••
The Small Farmer Fund: Investing Beyond Trade
MENEELY 301 | WORKSHOP SESSION 2 & 3
Presented by: Dary Goodrich, Chocolate Supply Chain Manager, Equal Exchange, and Paola Coronado, Value Chain and Project Specialist, Equal Exchange
Since Equal Exchange started, we have always been so much more than a trade partner. We have directed additional project funds to farmer co-ops that we trade with to build stronger co-op institutions, increase productivity and quality, and build resiliency. These projects have had a deep impact on farmers. Last year, when USAID funding was abruptly cut, millions of dollars in planned co-op and community-led work disappeared overnight. Like many organizations, we were left asking, what now? Our answer was to keep finding ways to do this work through the Small Farmer Fund. These are smaller and more targeted farmer-driven projects. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at what this next chapter looks like on the ground. In this workshop, we’ll share updates from our partners and their projects and the ways you can help sustain this work.
•••
From Crisis to Care: How We Can Support Survivors of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
MENEELY 102 | WORKSHOP SESSION 3
Presented by Stephanie Rapp, Director of Development, Panzi Foundation
Over the last year, violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has rapidly escalated, affecting millions of people. This isn’t a new war, but one that has been raging for more than 30 years. Since January 2025, large swaths of eastern DRC have fallen under rebel occupation and are now cut off from the rest of the country. More than 7,000 people have been killed in the fighting and over 2 million newly displaced. In 2025, data shows that rates of sexual and gender-based violence increased by nearly 70%.
For decades, the international community has ignored what is happening in the DRC: violence that is driven by exploitation. Join us for an urgent conversation about what is happening on the ground and how we can take action to support survivors of sexual violence and their communities. We’ll talk about what we can do as consumers, advocates, and people who refuse to ignore the harsh realities in Congo. Your presence matters.
•••
The Work of Generations: A Cooperative Story of Banana Growing
*Presented in Spanish with translation
MENEELY 209 | WORKSHOP SESSION 3*
Presented by Edgar Ramon San Martin, founding farmer-member of AsoGuabo, and Gabriel Antonio Ramon Barriga, Edgar’s son and farmer-member of AsoGuabo
Founded in 1997 in El Guabo, Ecuador, AsoGuabo is a pioneer in fair trade banana exports. In 2006, they became the first banana trade partner of what would become Equal Exchange Produce. Banana farming is meticulous, challenging, and perpetual work, which makes democratic organizations like AsoGuabo all the more important. Bridging the generational gap in farming can also be particularly challenging in an industry with such present challenges as fusarium TR4 and volatile markets.
Edgar and Gabriel will share their experiences as growers, members of AsoGuabo, suppliers of Equal Exchange, and as a family for whom the banana industry has been central.
•••
P6: Cooperation among Cooperatives Workshop #1
MENEELY 105 | WORKSHOP SESSION 2
Presented by Jessica Armbrust, East Aurora Co-op, and Sam McCormick, Assabet Co-op Market
With over 240 stores serving 1.3 million members, consumer food co-ops in the U.S. recorded $2.8 billion in combined annual sales, driven by strong local (23% of sales) and organic (38% of sales) sourcing.
Jessica Armbrust and Sam McCormick are the great leaders of two food co-ops (East Aurora in upstate NY and Assabet in Eastern Mass.) that Equal Exchange reached out to in 2025 to build deeper partnerships. Jess and Sam will share their analysis of where the food co-op movement is at and their visions for the next period.
•••
P6: Cooperation among Cooperatives Workshop #2
MENEELY 105 | WORKSHOP SESSION 3
Presented by Dan Gillotte, Greenbelt Co-op; Rochelle Prunty, River Valley Co-op; James Watts, Weaver Street Market
With over 240 stores serving 1.3 million members, consumer food co-ops in the U.S. recorded $2.8 billion in combined annual sales, driven by strong local (23% of sales) and organic (38% of sales) sourcing.
Dan Gillotte, Rochelle Prunty, and James Watts are the great leaders of three food co-ops (Greenbelt, River Valley and Weaver Street Market) that Equal Exchange reached out to in 2025 to build deeper partnerships. Dan, Rochelle, and James will share their analysis of where the food co-op movement is at and their visions for the next period.
•••
Equal Exchange and the Midterm Elections
MENEELY 301 | WORKSHOP SESSION 3
Presented by Rink Dickinson, Equal Exchange Co-Founder and Co-Director, and Rob Everts, Co-Director Emeritus
The U.S. democratic system is under sustained, ongoing, historical threat from weakening citizenship, two weak political parties, one that has been captured by a cult of personality. Many of our major institutions (media, major political parties, major corporations, universities) have shown themselves to be unwilling, uninterested, unable, feeble in the task of defending democracy. Smaller institutions, therefore, need to do this work. In this workshop, we will discuss Equal Exchange’s role—as a democratic organization of scale—in taking an unprecedented electoral campaign step this fall.
More details and workshops will be added to this page as they are announced.
Questions? Email Danielle and Frankie at organizing@equalexchange.coop or call (774) 776-7366.