Treehugger

Treehugger posted our Fair Trade Gift Guide! Thanks, Treehugger!

Lucuma Designs

With sustainability in mind, fresh ideas and innovative design, Lucuma Designs strives to bring you contemporary crafts and folk art to smile about. By developing opportunities and guiding their artist partners to go beyond the ordinary, Lucuma empowers creative women and family workshops in Peru to help themselves and their community.

Lucuma Designs has been a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation since 1999 and recently became an official supporter of Fair Trade the White House.

Find one of a kind birdhouses, gourd toys, finger puppets and so much more!

Lucuma Desings is a member of Green America and supports Fair Trade Resource Network to learn more about fair trade.

SEN CHA Naturals

Too rushed to make a cup of tea? Is the weather too hot? SEN CHA Naturals has a healthy solution and offers Fair Trade Certified Green Tea Mints & Green Tea Bars. Green Tea's benefits has been applauded for helping both the mind and the body, from preventing cavities to sharpening your mind to providing a high dose of antioxidents. Three of SEN CHA's mints is equal to 1 cup of green tea while one bar is the equivalent of 3 cups of green tea.

Read more about the benefits of Green Tea and find a SEN CHA retailer near you.

SEN CHA Natural's Green Tea is certified by TransFair USA and is an official supporter of Fair Trade the White House. SEN CHA will provide Green Tea Mints for the White House Outreach.

Follow their blog and find them on Facebook.

Wholesome Sweeteners

Wholesome Sweeteners offers 8 organic, fair trade sugars to choose from - white, brown, turbinado and more. They are a socially and environmentally responsible company that provides high quality sugars. It's better for you, better for the environment and better for the farmers, who earn a premium a price for their raw goods...what's not to love!

Wholesome Sweeteners is certified by TransFair USA and is an official member of Fair Trade the White House


Subscribe to their Newsletter, join them on Facebook and create delicious recipes
with Wholesome Sweeteners sustainable sugar.

Global Fayre News

Fair Trade the White House supporter, Global Fayre, has fair trade events you'll want to be aware of!

August 7 - First Friday Art Walk - we're continuing the basket theme from last month, this time moving to Botswana, and are thrilled to have a selection of baskets from the ladies of the Etsha Weavers group. In addition, we will be using First Friday to focus on Kiva. We'll have some friends on hand to talk about Kiva, PLUS - $1 for every purchase on the night will be donated to Kiva. We have formed a Global Fayre Kiva Loan Team, and will make a loan every time we hit a $25 donation point. Better still - if you are here, you get to vote where the loan should go!

August 18th - introduction to Fair Trade. Open to all, to be held at Global Fayre, starting at 7pm.

September 4th - First Friday Art Walk / 26.2 miles to Africa. Have you ever seen someone run a marathon on a treadmill? Intrigued? We'll send an e-blast out before hand, but if you want to make sure that you don't miss out, bookmark our blog, become a fan at facebook, or follow us at twitter.

324 S Campbell, right on the corner of Campbell and Walnut in the historic downtown area of Springfield, Missouri

FAIR. Vodka

Truly “Drinking Responsibly”

When The Fair Trade Spirit’s Company (FTSC) and The National Association of Quinoa Farmers (ANAPQUI), created a partnership in 2009, the label “FAIR. Vodka” was born, introducing the first fair trade certified vodka.

Quinoa, harvested from small farms in Bolivia, is purchased at a fair wage and directly from the local farmers. It is then transported to France where The Fair Trade Spirit’s Company takes great care in producing pristine vodka.

FAIR. Vodka is an official supporter of Fair Trade the White House

Look for FAIR. Vodka’s Fairtrade Organization label on their bottle.

Read more about FAIR. Vodka’s owners and their commitment to fair trade and the environment.

Follow them on Facebook!

Fair Trade, The Basics

What is Fair Trade?

Comedian John Oliver phrased it rather bluntly and succinctly, "it's about not screwing people." For those of you who prefer a more informative definition, there is one at hand: "Fair Trade is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers. Fair Trade Organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning fo changes in the rules and practice of conventioanl international trade."

Still curious? Still confused? It's okay. It can get complicated. But the underlying issue remains the same, fair trade means to provide sustainable wages to the laborers who provide us with our products. Fair trade is the just way of doing business. One day, it'll be the only way of doing business. Until that time, promote as much as you can.

Visit Fair Trade the White House for more information on Fair Trade.

Zhena's Gypsy Tea

If you are a lover of all things tea, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea is the place for you. All certified organic and all certified Fair Trade, there’s a healthy and flavorful choice in green, black, white, chai, herbal, rare, loose leaf, or sachet teas. Zhena also has a selection of “Pink” teas especially for women’s health, infused with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Zhena’s Teas are also certified Biodynamic, guaranteeing these criteria:


* Highest paradigm of sustainable farming.

* Self- sustaining ecosystem free from any external and unnatural additions.

* Heals the environment for future generations.

* One of the smallest carbon footprints of any agricultural method.

* Oldest non-chemical agricultural movement in the West, predating the organic farming movement by 20 years



So, if you’re in the market for an amazing cup of tea or tea accessories, get into “the original spirit of tea” from Zhena’s.



Zhena’s Gypsy Tea is a Fair Trade the White House gift bag participant.

Greenheart

What Color's Your Heart?

Greenheart Shop is Chicago’s only nonprofit eco friendly, fair trade store. Greenheart is fair to producers and good to the earth through its support of local, social enterprises and global fair trade partnerships. They carry a variety of goods including recycled accessories and handbags, home goods, gourmet treats, cookbooks, glassware, jewelry, toys, personal care, organic cotton t-shirts and more.


Greenheart believes consumers have the power to affect positive World change by supporting sustainable and fair business practices in their purchasing choices.


Greenheart is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America, they carry Fair Trade Certified products through Trans Fair USA and support Fair Trade the White House by contributing among the list of Retailers.

Shop & Blog


Shop Green. Shop Fair.

Alter Eco

Alter Eco is committed to the following:

• Playing an active part to wed product quality and a sustainable approach centered on people and our planet.

• Promoting Fair Trade and increasing awareness about fair trade amongst consumers in the northern hemisphere.

• Transparency and traceability.

"We are a team of fair trade visionaries and food-loving explorers on a mission to connect you to our farmers and their honest foods. When you taste the sweet justice of our mission you will understand our persistence, and our invitation to join us in finding you Alter Eco."

Decadent chocolate, nutritious quinoa, tasty teas...check out their website for a whole lot more and take your time to learn more about fair trade and the relationships Alter Eco has forged through their responsible trading methods. You can also write a personal message to the farmers!

Alter Eco proudly offers products certified by Trans Fair USA, is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America and supports Fair Trade the White House.

Sign up for their Newsletter and shop for goods!

Guayaki

With a passion for mate, Guayakí partners with small farmers and indigenous communities to source mate from the sub-tropical forests of South America. From the simple love of a beverage, Guayakí drinkers have become a driving force for conservation and community development by paying a fair trade price for rainforest-grown mate.



Never sipped on a cup of yerba mate? Both its taste and nutritional value will keep you coming back for more! Learn all about its benefits at Guayaki. They don't call it "drink of the gods" for nothing!



Guayaki is certified "Fair For Life" (IMO) and by Trans Fair USA. They are members of the Fair Trade Federation and are proud supporters of Fair Trade the White House.

Click here to see how you can get your discount!

Little Works, USA

Little Works, USA carries beautiful, hand made greeting cards, each of which are true works of art that express originality for all occasions. Ranging from birthdays, weddings, engagements, Christmas, quotations, African & ethnic and just about every other holiday, Little Works imports greeting cards from South Africa and Namibia, paying sustainable wages to the artisans.

Their mission is to give women and children the opportunity of education, security and self respect. Little Works also carries recyclable cards and, just a side note, if you’ve purchased cards at The Ritz-Carlton or The Smithsonian, it just might have come from Africa -- by way of Little Works!

Shop at Little Works and find your favorite fairly traded cards.

Member of Fair Trade Federation and Green America.

Supporter of Fair Trade the White House Campaign
Read more about their scholarship fund
Twitter
Facebook

Anti-Body

The founders of Anti-Body, LLC (anti-poverty, beautiful body) embarked on a mission to create a consumer product that would benefit both the customer and the individuals from developing countries who produce their ingredients. After extensive research about the most natural and beneficial ingredients, they formulated their body-care line to include fair trade ingredients (most certified through Trans Fair USA!).

As founders of Fair Trade the White House, Anti-Body is very proud to have support of the many fair trade organizations, retailers, distributors, vendors and individuals and honored to have the collaboration of a strong Steering Committee to give this campaign momentum and increase fair trade awareness in America.

Get Caught! Follow their blog, become a fan on Facebook, and get a discount through FTWH!

Anti-Body is a proud member of Green America

Chicago Soydairy

Chicago Soydairy brings us 100% vegan and cruelty-free, high quality foods - from Teese Vegan Cheese to Temptation Vegan Ice Cream to Dandies Vegan Marshmellows. One hundred percent of their operating energy is offset with Green Solar and Wind Energy Credits, as certified through Green-E.org and they use delicious Fair Trade Certified ingredients through Trans Fair USA. Each product can stand on its own or make a sundae, pizza or cup of cocoa!

Learn more about their products
Find where to shop (you won't be disappointed!)
Check out all their flavors!



Chicago Soydairy is a proud supporter of Fair Trade the White House

Promote Fair Trade!

Have a website, social networking account or blog? You can help promote fair trade growth in America by adding the Fair Trade the White House banner to customize your page! Or print out promotional materials and customize your own Fair Party!

The more signatures and support, the stronger our chance of inviting First Lady Michelle Obama to Fair Trade her Home.

"Always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change."

President Barack Obama

Be Sweet

Creative Products with a Conscience

If you have ever been concerned about how your fashion affects people or the environment, your worries are now over. Be Sweet was founded by Nadine Curtis who, after living in Cape Town, South Africa, decided fashion should be ethical and ethical clothing should be fashionable. She gives villagers a fair wage for their mohair, bamboo and organic cotton yarns, accessories and home goods. Be Sweet then offers a line of unique, quirky, whimsical and beautiful clothes, jewelry, home items as well as yarn and patterns.

Be Sweet has gone the extra step so that shopping for your wardrobe can easily be fashionable and honest.

Find out where to Buy and sign up for their Newsletter.

Members of Fair Trade Federation and supporters of Fair Trade the White House