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
2026 Schedule of Events
Thursday, June 11
Welcome dinner (optional)
8pm, Film screening of American Agitators (60 min. running time)
Early check-in available
Friday, June 12
Keynote Address
Workshops
All meals provided, followed by a party
Saturday, June 13
Breakfast (optional)
10am, Equal Exchange Roastery Tour (optional)
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
The Small Farmer Fund: Investing Beyond Trade
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at what the current chapter of Small Farmer Fund projects looks like on the ground. Since Equal Exchange started, we have always been so much more than a trade partner. We have directed project funds to the farmer co-ops 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. Our answer was to keep finding ways to do this work through our community-supported Small Farmer Fund. In this workshop, we’ll share updates from our partners and share additional ways that you can help sustain this work.
Presented by: Dary Goodrich, Chocolate Supply Chain Manager, Equal Exchange
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A New Model for Global Worker Cooperatives
In this workshop, you’ll learn the nuts and bolts of the La Siembra/Equal Exchange merger and hear our vision of what our shared future might look like. 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 a plan to keep the business in the hands of the Canadian worker-owners. Now, the members of La Siembra Cooperative have joined as fellow co-owners of Equal Exchange. 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.
Presented by: Kelly Storie, President of La Siembra, and Nicole Vitello, Vice-President of Equal Exchange
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Industry Consolidation: A Closer Look at Your Options in the Grocery Aisle
In this workshop, Nova will guide you on how to maximize your shopping impact to support local and independent farms and food producers. 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. How is a conscientious shopper able to identify the brands that are independent, cooperative, or structured in ways that guarantee they remain so? Sacramento Co-op tries to balance supporting independent brands and their products alongside stocking market-leading products that usually come from consolidated businesses. They must consider what their members say they want and what they actually buy. Together, we’ll discuss how we can still influence the world we want to live in with the everyday choices we make.
Presented by Nova Wetherwax, Director of Merchandising at Sacramento Co-op
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40 Years of Fair Trade: Reflections and Lessons
On May 1, 2026, Equal Exchange turns 40. In this workshop, we want to reflect on this history through some key questions. How have the key participants of our supply chain—farmer co-ops, Equal Exchange itself, and consumer food co-ops—succeeded at:
Achieving real linkages that benefit our members and others in the value chain.
Taking economic and political risk to advance our missions and build larger markets for equitably produced goods.
Making progress on building a cooperative economy
Our goal is to share our analysis to provoke discussion and to increase our capacity for co-op innovation in the interesting time ahead.
Presented by Rink Dickinson and Rob Everts
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From Crisis to Care: How We Can Support Survivors of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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.
Presented by Stephanie Rapp, Director of Development, Panzi Foundation
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The Work of Generations: A Cooperative Story of Banana Growing
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.
Presented by Edgar Ramon San Martin, founding farmer-member of AsoGuabo, and Gabriel Antonio Ramon Barriga, Edgar’s son and farmer-member of AsoGuabo
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Independence Matters
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.
Presented by Melody Morrell, Executive Director, Cornucopia Institute
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P6: Cooperation among Cooperatives Workshop #1
With over 240 stores serving 1.3 million members, consumer food co-ops recorded $2.8 billion in combined annual sales, driven by strong local (23% of sales) and organic (38% of sales) sourcing. Jessica Armbrust, Jeff Bessmer, and Sam McCormick are the great leaders of 3 food co-ops (East Aurora and Greenstar in upstate NY and Assabet in Eastern Mass.) that Equal Exchange reached out to in 2025 to build deeper partnerships. Jess, Jeff, and Sam will share their analysis of where the food co-op movement is at and their visions for the next period.
Presented by Jessica Armbrust, East Aurora Coop; Jeff Bessmer, Greenstar Coop; Sam McCormick, Assabet Coop
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P6: Cooperation among Cooperatives Workshop #2
With over 240 stores serving 1.3 million members, consumer food co-ops 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 3 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 coop movement is at and their visions for the next period.
Presented by Dan Gillotte, Greenbelt Coop; Rochelle Prunty, River Valley Coop; James Watts, Weaver Street Market
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Equal Exchange and the Midterm Elections
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.
Presented by Rink Dickinson, Co-Founder and Co-Director, and Rob Everts, Co-Director Emeritus
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Ascension’s Lutheran Fair Trade Ministry: 25 Years of Faith and Justice
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 & 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.
Presented by Carol Bjelland, Ascension Fair Trade Ministry Leader
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.