by Laurencia Coupal

In celebration of National Fair Trade Weeks May 1-15, Common Ground would like to recognize local companies that have made great strides in developing the fair trade marketplace. These companies have been instrumental in making fair trade a reality. Their initiatives empower the lives of workers, producers and artisans in developing countries.
In a consumer world driven by the cheapest price and maximum profit these companies have stood up for what they believe is the fair price. The fair price ensures that the grower, artisan and worker receive fair payment for their skills as well as better working conditions and access to health care and education. These are benefits that we, the consumer, often take for granted. Because of the awareness created by these ethical companies we can make a conscious choice and enjoy many fairly traded products such as coffee, tea, raw sugar, dried fruits, clothing, sports balls and crafts.
Examples of these inspiring companies include:
Capers Community Markets presents an industry-leading selection of fair trade organic products. These include: coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, dried fruit, bananas, mangoes, and pineapples. Capers demonstrates its commitment to raise consumer awareness of the fair trade movement by making these high quality fair trade certified products available in its stores. Capers announced that it is the first retailer in Canada to make a switch over to organic fair trade cane sugar in its in-house bakeries. Over 90 bakery products now feature La Siembra Co-operative fair trade cane sugar. www.capersmarkets.com
La Siembra Co-operative, the makers of Cocoa Camino products, offers consumers high-quality, certified fair trade chocolate, sugar and cocoa powder from fair trade-certified organic cocoa and sugar co-ops in Central and South America.
www.cocoacamino.com
Level Ground Trading deals directly with small-scale producers in developing countries. LGT travels regularly to work with producers and growers in their home communities. Level Ground offers certified organic fairly traded coffee, dried fruit and natural cane sugar. This organization is accredited by IFAT.
www.levelground.com
Maiwa Handprints, founded in Vancouver, offers embroidered, block printed, hand woven and naturally dyed textiles. This company supports traditional craft through an ethical business model. www.maiwa.com
Pro Organics is the only licensed fair trade organic fresh produce distributor in Canada. With more Canadian retailers and consumers requesting fair trade organic produce items, Pro Organics is working with its overseas suppliers and Transfair Canada to increase its fair trade offerings. Currently, organic fair trade bananas and mangoes are available. www.proorganics.com
Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit alternative trading organization which provides sustainable income for artisans in developing countries through fair trade. Its mission is to create opportunities for the economically disadvantaged which promotes independence and improves quality of life.
www.tenthousandvillages.org
Local certified organic fair trade coffee companies include:
Ethical Bean www.ethicalbean.com
Kicking Horse Coffee
www.kickinghorsecoffee.com
Salt Spring Roasting Company
www.saltspringcoffee.com
To learn more about fair trade visit these sites:
The International Fair Trade Association www.ifat.org
Trans Fair Canada www.transfair.ca
Fair Trade Federation
www.fairtradefederation.com

So mark your calendar for May 1-15, 2005, and be part of the many joyful events that will take place during National Fair Trade Weeks. You will get a chance to meet with Canadian fair trade companies, learn more about the benefits, sample wonderful products and feel more connected with the people who work hard to produce our daily goods. Contact TransFair: Chantal.havard@transfair.ca
www.transfair.ca

laurencia@commonground.ca