Back in October, during National Fair Trade Month, Emily highlighted several foods where fair trade policies—which require sustainable farming and just labor practices for the workers—make a big difference. Chocolate, flowers, and wine (um, anyone buying those soon?) are three categories that offer good options...
TransFair USA, the organization responsible for fair trade labeling in the US, is promoting Valentine's Day as an opportunity to buy flowers, chocolate, and wine from ethically and environmentally responsible companies.
A lot of fair trade products (especially chocolate) are sold at Whole Foods, but we were also happy to see that FTD, 1-800 Flowers, and Sam's Club offer fair trade flowers. Buying fair trade flowers can help workers in Ecuador, Columbia, and Kenya (where Faith just visited) get better wages and benefits, like maternity leave. (How's that for showing a woman you care?)
Fair trade chocolate is everywhere and easy enough to pick up, even if you're using it in one of these desserts. And click on the link below to see Mary's picks for fair trade wine.
Spread the love, baby.
• Visit the TransFair USA Valentine's Day website
More Fair Trade coverage:
October: National Fair Trade Month
Fair Trade: Cocoa
Fair Trade: Vanilla
Fair Trade: Sugar
Fair Trade: Honey
All About Fair Trade Wine
(Images: BetterEarthFlowers.com; Flickr member net_efekt, licensed under Creative Commons)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Fair trade wine is really only relevant for Chile, South Africa, and Argentina, isn't' it? As I live in California, I want to support my state growers and buy wine that hasn't traveled a long way. Same with flowers--I buy only those grown in my state and encourage others to buy American. I think that's a more important subject that fair trade.
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I love the chocolate I buy from Ten Thousand Villages (http://chestnuthill.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.homepage.php) - Equal exchange dark 70% cocoa. It's so delicious. I buy the one little square at a time for a quarter. It's such a treat. My husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day but maybe this year I'll celebrate fair trade and get him a full bar next week- I make up my own holidays. He loves the chocolate too.
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