Marketplace 2.0, the Rainforest Alliance online traceability platform, now includes all fresh and processed fruits, vegetables and cut flowers, so it is even easier to trace Rainforest Alliance Certified products through supply chains, and to authorize trademark approvals.
Traceability matters
Our stakeholders – including consumers, brands, other NGOs, and consumer advocacy groups –regularly challenge us to demonstrate how we ensure our claims of Rainforest Alliance Certified content. Traceability helps us back up the claim that any products bearing the Rainforest Alliance seal come from Rainforest Alliance Certified sources. It means that consumers and companies can trace a product back to a Rainforest Alliance certified farm of group. This process helps us safeguard the integrity of the Rainforest Alliance seal.
Collecting this data centrally at the Rainforest Alliance, allows us to have visibility through the entire supply chain, from origin to final distribution, and thus can assure the integrity of the Rainforest Alliance seal.
Every stage of its journey documented, so consumers are certain of what they are buying. Companies can also benefit from traceability because it can make their supply chains more transparent, identify possible weak spots and work on further improvements. And farmers can track farm development, but also gain access to new markets.
In summary, traceability can:
- support the credibility and consistency of use of the Rainforest Alliance Certified trademark, certified claims and the seal on-pack and off-pack
- maintain the credibility of claims that and products have originated from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and the integrity of the Rainforest Alliance seal
If you have any questions about our traceability systems and methods, and what it can mean to your company, please contact customersuccess@ra.org.
FAQ
What is Marketplace 2.0?
Marketplace 2.0 is an online platform used by the Rainforest Alliance to trace Rainforest Alliance Certified products through supply chains, and to authorize trademark approvals. Farmers and companies now have a single transactional system Marketplace 2.0 to record all purchases and sales of Rainforest Alliance Certified fresh and processed fruits, vegetables and cut flowers.
How can I find information on using Marketplace 2.0?
You can access Marketplace 2.0 here. Once logged in, you can find user manuals by clicking on “Help” on the left, and traceability manuals are under “Traceability Materials”.
Who needs to register transactions?
Any company buying or selling from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms including producers, processors, exporters, importers, ripening facilities, bottlers, and wholesalers will need to report their incoming and outgoing transactions using the online traceability system. See chapter 2 of the Rainforest Alliance Supply Chain Requirements here
How are the volume transactions tracked?
Certified producers are allocated a maximum quota of Rainforest Alliance Certified volumes at the time of audit. Our traceability system will track volumes of the Rainforest Alliance Certified fresh fruits, fruit juice and by-products, and vegetables and cut flowers from certified producers all the way to brand/retail packaging, to support the Rainforest Alliance Certified claim. The system records volume transactions via Transaction Certificates (TC) of the Rainforest Alliance Certified products, linking the product claim to certified farms.
What crops are traceable in Marketplace?
| Fruits |
| Acai |
| Apple |
| Apricot |
| Avocado |
| Banana |
| Blackberry |
| Blueberry |
| Cape gooseberry/Physalis |
| Cherry |
| Citrus |
| Clementine |
| Fig |
| Grapefruit |
| Grapes |
| Lemon |
| Lychee |
| Mandarin |
| Mango |
| Mangosteen |
| Melon |
| Nectarine |
| Papaya |
| Passion fruit |
| Peach |
| Pear |
| Pineapple |
| Pitahaya/Dragon Fruit |
| Plantain |
| Plum |
| Pomegranate |
| Raspberry |
| Soursop |
| Strawberry |
| Watermelon |
| Vegetables |
| Artichoke |
| Arugula |
| Asparagus |
| Bean |
| Beet, beetroot |
| Brussels Sprout |
| Calabash |
| Carrot |
| Celery |
| Chard |
| Corn |
| Cucumber |
| Eggplant, Aubergine |
| Green bean/string bean |
| Lettuce |
| Manioc/Cassava |
| Onion |
| Pea |
| Potato |
| Spinach |
| Squash |
| Sweet Potato |
| Tomato |
| Flowers |
| Flowers |
| Foliage |
| Sunflower |
When do I need to register transactions?
Per our 2020 Supply Chain Requirements, volumes sold as certified must be recorded in the Rainforest Alliance traceability platform at the latest two weeks after the end of the quarter in which the shipment took place.
Do I need to register transactions if I do not intend to use the Rainforest Alliance seal?
If your company wants to claim that the products it buys or sells originated from a Rainforest Alliance Certified farm then the transaction must be reported in the traceability system, irrespective of whether the products carry the green frog seal or other Rainforest Alliance trademarks on stickers or packaging. Similarly, all transactions of products which carry the green frog seal or other Rainforest Alliance trademarks on stickers or packaging must be reported in the traceability system even if the final buyer does not want to claim that these products have been sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. This enables us to validate all claims that the products have been sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and protects the credibility of the Rainforest Alliance trademarks, including the green frog seal.
How does the Rainforest Alliance ensure data privacy?
The Rainforest Alliance places a high priority on protecting your data and your privacy. Sales data is treated as confidential and will only be accessible to the suppliers and customers that you interact with directly. The Rainforest Alliance understands that you may have a desire to keep your individual and business information private and secure. We are committed to taking all reasonable and appropriate measures to safeguard against unauthorized disclosures of information. Read more in our privacy policy here
What information do I need to register regarding sales transactions?
Accumulated per quarter, or per transaction, the following information is requested:
For buyers:
| RA Farm Certificate Number | Country of Origin | Exporter of Record | Shipment Date & Vessel |
| Quantity of Boxes & box size | PO Number (or other reference) | Customer name and country | Sales Date |
For producers:
| Client RA ID | Destination Country | Product name or code | Volume sold (kg) |
| Harvest Date | Shipment Date | Batch #/ PO#/ Invoice#/ Vessel name or B/L or Sales contract # | |
I don’t have internet access; how can I report a sale?
Internet access is required to declare transaction certificates. For producers that have limited access to the internet, buyers can request a Transaction Certificate to the Producers by using the “Purchase” option at the time of issuing a TC, by selecting “Purchase” to the question “What are you declaring?”. Once the purchase is declared, the producers have 3 days to approve the TC or request changes. After those 3 days, the TC gets automatically approved.
Where can I find manuals for Marketplace 2.0?
The Traceability in Marketplace – User Guide for Producers is here and The Traceability in Marketplace – User Guide for Supply Chain Actors is here More training materials can be found in Marketplace 2.0 by logging in, clicking on “Help” on the left, and selecting “Traceability Materials”.
I forgot my password to Marketplace 2.0. How can I log in?
To recover your password, go to the login page at https://marketplace.ra.org and click on “Forgot password or username?”. Enter your email or username and click on “Reset Password”. If that email or username is on Marketplace, we will send an email with a link to establish a new password. If you continue to have issues logging in, email us at customersuccess@ra.org.
