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In case you missed the memo, October has been fair trade month. From sweatshops in China to cases of modern slavery around the world, in the sugarcane fields of Haiti, the shrimp industry of Thailand, plantations of everything from coffee to pineapple, there are endless reasons for us, as consumers, to rethink how we value the products so integral to our lives: is it worth a few extra cents per cup to know that our coffee was produced by someone who can earn enough money to go home and feed their families—and send their kids to school, rather than have them work in the fields?
What to look for?
Coffee, tea, and chocolate have come to be synonymous with fair trade, but don't stop there: when you're grocery shopping, seek out fair trade honey, fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, nuts, olives, wine, grains. Make it a habit to find out as much as you can about how, and where, your goods are produced. Chances are if you can find that information, you'll be happy with what you learn; the more concealed the details, the shadier they tend to become.
But it doesn't stop at the grocery store: look for fair trade cotton, beauty products, even things like soccer balls.
There are programs that make it extra easy for you: Free the Slaves' Made By Survivors program will tell you exactly who made what you're buying, and you'll be supporting people who are coming out of some pretty horrible conditions.
To learn more about why fair trade is so important, and fair trade products you can buy, check out some of these resources:
TransFair USA (sponsor of the Fair Trade Month campaign)
Fair Trade Labeling Organization International
So close out October with a fair trade bang, fill your Halloween with fair trade and green treats, but then keep it going all year.
