Fair Trade For All

Do you know where your coffee, chocolate, or spices come from? Do you know the work conditions of the producers? Do you know how your purchases impact the environment? Do you know what "fair trade" really means?Many consumers in the West would answer these questions with a resounding ‘no’. We are often worlds away from the sources of products that we enjoy every day. From this distant vantage point, it is easy to dismiss Fair Trade Certified products as merely ‘trendy.', which many of us are quick to do. When we aren’t faced with the reality of our decisions’ impacts, we choose the cheapest product over the ethically-sourced one.Since most of us will never come face-to-face with our products’ producers in this global marketplace, we must do the work to stay proximate and to understand the impact of what we purchase.  We can choose to be proactive. Purchasing Fair Trade Certified products guarantees that the producers earn fair prices and community development funds. It means that production is held to strict environmental standards. It is the compassionate and ethical thing to do. It is shopping with our faith values.October is Fair Trade month. What better time to start changing your purchasing habits. Do your research to understand which products often have negative impacts. Start small, and choose one product to start purchasing consciously. Since Halloween is approaching, think about the chocolate that you purchase. Did you know that child labor is a significant problem in the cocoa-producing industry? How and what we purchase can turn this tide.So, Consider buying fair trade! You can impact the environment and the lives of farmers with your purchases. As people of faith, we must examine all aspects of our lives with the lens of justice. Fair trade is yet another chance for our actions to reflect our love of this wondrous creation and all who inhabit it!