What is "Fair Trade" and where can I find it?

People have asked me about my reference to "Fair Trade" Coffee in my sermon on Sunday (3/8/09 "Your Kingdom Come"). I wanted to provide some more information and places where you can locate these items.

One of the best places to start is Ten Thousand Villages. If you're in the Raleigh area, they are a store in Cameron Village shopping center. Their website is: http://www.villagesofraleigh.org/ . Everything they sell is Fair Trade and they have wonderful gifts, coffee, chocolate, musical instruments, and more. The organization's main website is http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/ . They also provide good information about the practical aspects of what Fair Trade means for those receiving the wages. Check out their information here.

I have been trying to pay close attention recently to be able to name other places in our community to find Fair Trade. Fair Trade items are typically marked with a small emblem on the packaging or signs in the store indicate it. Most often in the US and Canada, the image will look like this:


Other images have been used in the past:

There is also an international symbol that is used (except in the US and Canada) that looks like:


Another website with information, history, and also some critique of the idea is found on Wikipedia (yes I can't believe I'm recommending this site--sorry Seminary professors!)
Click here for the Fair Trade Site. You are also able to find lots of links by going to www.google.com and searching for "Fair Trade."

I will keep updating this list as I find places to purchase stuff that is Fair Trade. If you find items or stores you would like included, please comment to the Blog or email me at suzparkermiller@gmail.com to add to my list. Thanks!

Fair Trade Retailers, Companies, and Products:

• Ten Thousand Villages (mentioned above)
  
• Starbucks (most of their coffee is "Ethically Traded" but is not well marked-ask at the counter. Also you get a $.10 discount for bringing your own mug/cup/used Starbucks cup, etc). www.starbucks.com
  
• Brueggers Bagels (Currently they offer French Roast and French Toast (which I highly recommend!) flavors in Fair Trade and also sell the French Roast. If you bring your own mug, you can get a "Refill" for a cheaper price.) http://www.brueggers.com/
  
• Caribou Coffee offers rotating varieties of Fair Trade Coffee--ask in the store for which are available at that time. http://www.cariboucoffee.com/
  
• World Mission Shop (Moravian Missions shop in Winston-Salem, NC off Miller Street near Baptist Hospital.)
• Equal Exchange Brand Products are all fair trade--coffee, chocolate, tea and more. Sold at Ten Thousand Villages and other retailers. http://www.equalexchange.coop/
• Larry's Beans--a local Raleigh producer of Fair Trade, Organic Coffee. Their beans and coffee can be found at lots of local shops and is spreading out too! http://www.larrysbeans.com/
• Whole Foods Markets