Fair Trade Towns in the US launches today
Today is the first day of Fair Trade month in the United States and marks the official launch of the Fair Trade Towns campaign for the United States. A key objective of the Fair Trade movement in the United States is to educate consumers about the importance of purchasing Fair Trade products. Already Media, PA and Brattleboro, VT have declared themselves “Fair Trade Towns.” Local and national Fair Trade coalitions and advocates who work to support and grow the Fair Trade movement in the U.S. have now collaborated on the Fair Trade Towns campaign, and have developed guidelines to meet the five goals to become a Fair Trade municipality. The official website includes the Fair Trade Towns Toolkit which can help communities like yours bring Fair Trade to your town.
Following the example of the movement in Europe, called “Fairtrade Towns”, the campaign strives to support local, grassroots Fair Trade initiatives by offering tools and resources to become a Fair Trade Town or City, thus growing the Fair Trade movement in the U.S. To be recognized as a Fair Trade town, city, or community in the U.S., five goals need to be met including: the formation of a steering committee that meets regularly; availability in local stores, cafes, and other venues of a range of Fair Trade products that are either certified by TransFair USA or sold by retailers that are members of Fair Trade Federation; the use of Fair Trade products by a number of local organizations, such as places of worship, schools, hospitals and offices; attraction of media attention and visible public support of the local campaign; passage of a resolution supporting Fair Trade by the town or city council/governing body and a commitment to serve Fair Trade products at meetings.
Local campaigns and Fair Trade Towns committees are sprouting up around the country! If you are interested in Fair Trade, please contact your CRS Regional Office to see what is going on in your part of the country and possibly start a Fair Trade Town campaign in your community!
Hooray for Media, PA!
The Fair Trade leaders in Media recently placed a large order for Fair Trade soccer balls, footballs, and basketballs to outfit their schools, parks, and recreation leagues.
Kudos to their leadership by example!
- Scott James
Fair Trade Sports
Blog: http://www.fairtradesports.com
Fair Trade soccer balls!
I learned about CRS and Fair TRade at Sacred Heart Cathedral Pensacola FL.
I have looked ocer your web site.
i didn ‘t see anywhere on your web site where a Catholic or orother consumer could by your fair trade Coffe cholate ,eyc., by mail. In smaller household – use amounts. If I am in error please correct me.
Tell me whqt you think.
Ed Hohensee
E mail edhohensee@aol.com
3151 Oxford Circle
Pensacola Fl 32503
Ed,
Thanks so much for checking us out! You definitely can buy all our partners’ items by mail. Work of Human Hands, for example, has a catalog of wonderful crafts and gourmet foods. Many of our coffee partners have mail-order services…check first with the partner closest to you. Also our chocolate program has order by mail or fax, and, of course, toll free number.
At the top of our home page you can click on any category. Then on the left hand side there will be a “buy” link. Click there and follow the directions.
Thanks again for wanting to bring Fair Trade into your household.
Jackie