To buy fairly traded coffee, tea or chocolate, next time you go to the grocery store (Safeway, Nob Hill, Lucky, Albertson's, etc.) or Target or CostCo, just look for these logos clearly displayed on the front of the package:
Fair Trade Certified
Fair Trade Federation
Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade
Rainforest Alliance Certified
Whole Trade Guarantee
To shop for Christmas gift items, phone Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade at 1-800-685-7572 for a free catalog, or online and click “Products” at: http://www.crsfairtrade.org
Your purchases really do help the artisans and farmers make a living wage. I have found the crafts to be beautiful and at about half the price for similar items at, say, Pier 1 Imports or a department store. The coffee and tea are the same price and quality as other products from the particular brand, e.g. Yuban, Seattle's Best Coffee, Peet's, Stash, Numi, etc. Do not compromise quality or price to buy fairly traded items.
Feel good about what you buy. Help someone help themselves up and out of poverty. Buy fairly traded goods.
