October is Fair Trade Month, designed to educate others about the importance of fair trade and encourage them to buy fair trade products.
The goal of fair trade is to empower producers in developing countries, advocate for a fair price for their goods, and to establish social and environmental standards for production.
When we buy products, most of us want to know that what we consume isn't harming people or the planet. Fair trade is one avenue for helping us make more positive choices.
This article was found while looking for Fair Trade Month resources and highlights the consumer shift towards a more ethical and environmental paradigm of thinking:
Marketers Eye FAIR TRADE Certified as the new 'GREEN'.
Written by Mike Beirne.
Join Muenda-Fair Trade to celebrate October Fair Trade Month on Halloween!! We will be giving away delicious, yummy Fair Trade, Organic Chocolate with each purchase!!
The 'trick' is to find us at the Charleston City Market (sometimes like finding a needle in a haystack!) and the 'treat' is free chocolate! Seriously though, just look out for the 'Fair Trade' signs.
Fair Trade allows us all to work at a local level to help empower farmers and artisans to lift themselves out of poverty.
While investing in their farms and communities while protecting the environment, these businesses learn the skills necessary to compete sustainably in the global marketplace.
Muenda Fair Trade has been operating as a Fair Trade Business out of Charleston City Market for over 4 years now. As of October 1st (yesterday), the City Market Preservation Trust, LLC has taken over management of the historic market from the City.
Approximately 250-300 vendors (or cottage-industries) operate small businesses out of the market and are able to maintain sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families. With this changeover however, some of the vendors are concerned (maybe legitimately) that proposed new rules and regulations may leave them without secure livelihoods at the market.
Well we made it to Charleston's first ever Green Fair last Sunday (however I must admit I did drive there..). It was a warm, pleasant day and the event was bustling and seemed to be a huge success with all who were interested in becoming more environmentally aware.
The aims of Charleston Green Fair (CGF) was to be a waste-free, environmentally responsible event and demonstrated how big festivals can go green. A national company called Seven Star Events helped coordinate the festival to ensure that this event was sustainable and had zero impact in the local environment.
While there we visited various local non-profits and green businesses while eating tasty, wholesome foods. It was great to see so many businesses and organizations dedicated to doing great work both for our communities and the environment!
As a Fair Trade vendor at the Charleston City Market we are naturally curious to see what changes will occur once the new management take over the Charleston City Market.
Immediate changes are definitely needed, the public toilets are an embarrassment!! A new makeover...even a brisk powerwash will make a huge difference ascetically. Parking is an issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible if 'locals' are to be encouraged...which means that off-site parking does need to be available for vendors who at the moment do take up many of the parallel parking spots.
The 21st September is known to many as International Peace Day. The first ever Charleston Peace One Day Festival will be held at the Brittlebank Park (off Lockwood Dr) between 1-6 pm. Come and support this great event!!!
Living in a port city like Charleston that's been engaged in global commerce for centuries gives us a unique view of the impact of Fair Trade.
When supporters of Fair Trade in Charleston visit us at the Charleston Cty Market and online visitors from all the world purchase from our website you are helping support craftsmen and producers in "developing worlds."
Your are also a part of a larger global awakening that has a dramatic impact at a local level for our producers.
I do confess to being a chocolate lover...not all the time, but when a craving occurs, i must indulge. Of course, i do have to purchase Fair Trade chocolate and organic if available. I just wanted to share that i have found the first-ever Fair Trade Chocolate recipe book !! Of course, it is not just a recipe book using Fair Trade chocolate, this book also tells the compelling story behind the choice that more and more people are making every day - to buy chocolate from companies that pay a fair price for cocoa.
