Well Earth is Frontier's proactive program to find and develop ethical sources of high quality products for all our brands -- Frontier, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia. It supports both our co-op's values and our mission to convert the world to organic and natural products. Well Earth promotes the sustainable production of natural and organic products and creates partnerships built upon a mutual respect for quality botanicals and sound social and environmental principles. It is part of a many faceted program to provide our customers with high quality, socially responsible products that includes commitments to product quality, Fair Trade, organics, integrity, social responsibility and sustainable operations. The Well Earth program is built on our sourcing expertise resulting from over three decades of experience buying botanicals -- and meeting personally with growers -- from all over the world.

Well Earth partners are farmers and processors who are committed to excelling in the following areas:

· Worker Safety and Fair Treatment -- improving the lives of workers and their families and ensuring sustainable livelihoods and opportunities for growth

· Sustainable Production -- committing to sustainable practices and USDA-accredited certification of organic production

· Environment -- protecting and restoring the environment by minimizing the use of energy and natural resources and reducing waste and harmful emissions

· Community -- contributing to the quality of life in the communities where they operate

· Food Safety & Quality -- providing products that are pure, authentic and meet Frontier quality standards

The Well Earth program is good for Frontier, suppliers and their communities, the environment and consumers. Through this program, we are speeding the process of providing more organic, sustainable and ethically sourced products to our customers. By bringing high quality, socially responsible products to the marketplace, the program gives consumers the opportunity to use their purchases to influence the way the world does business.

At the same time, we are providing benefits for farmers and their families such as:

· a viable, stable and accessible market

· technical and financial support (loan and grants, assistance with quality issues and connections to growing, processing and trading expertise)

· a long-term, honest purchasing relationship that supports the producer's business growth