4.13.2004 ET

(CSRwire) OAKLAND, CA - TRANSFAIR USA, the nation's only third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified ™ products, today announced the appointment of Andi C. Trindle Walker as Retail Accounts Manager.

Trindle Walker will be responsible for managing relationships with distributor and retail partners to organize cross-product Fair Trade promotions, educating managerial and buying staff about the Fair Trade Certified brand, and increasing Fair Trade Certified product sales in new and current retail outlets.

With more than 12 years of experience in the coffee industry, Trindle Walker is a skilled coffee specialist. Her extensive knowledge of coffee runs from seed to cup and extends to distribution and marketing methods. Before joining TransFair, Trindle Walker was the Manager of Quality Assurance at Capricorn Coffees, where she developed and supervised new accounts, developed and promoted new product lines, and managed the quality control process. Prior to working at Capricorn, she was the Sales Manager at West Coast Specialty Coffee. Her duties there included creating and implementing sales and marketing strategies, assisting with coffee training workshops and facilitating export arrangements.

"Andi is well respected within the coffee community and brings deep industry knowledge and experience to TransFair," said Mark Magers, Business Development Director for TransFair USA. "That, coupled with her business contacts, will undoubtedly result in great opportunities for TransFair and our partners and help expand the reach of Fair Trade products throughout the United States. We are thrilled to have her on board."

Trindle Walker has led numerous workshops on topics such as brewing, espresso, coffee growing and processing, cupping and sustainability. Additionally, she is a Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA)--certified Golden Cup Brew Technician and has judged various coffee-related competitions on behalf of the SCAA. As a result of her industry leadership, she has developed extensive relationships with specialty coffee organizations around the world.

"TransFair presented a great opportunity to work for a visionary organization with a great mission. They have done extraordinary work in the area of Fair Trade certification, the effects of which reverberate throughout the U.S. and across international borders. I look forward to the opportunity to help build upon that legacy," said Trindle Walker.

Trindle Walker earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix in San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from San Francisco State University. She also received an Associate of Arts degree in Acting from the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA.



About TransFair USA
TransFair USA, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, is the sole Fair Trade certification organization in the U.S. Its rigorous audit system, which tracks products from farm to market, verifies industry and farmer compliance with Fair Trade criteria. TransFair authorizes companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet this high standard. TransFair USA is part of a global certification network with a 15-year history of success in over 60 countries. In addition to coffee, TransFair also certifies Fair Trade tea, chocolate, bananas and other fresh fruit. To learn more, visit http:www.transfairusa.org.

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