Celebrate World Fair Trade Day
Saturday, May 9th, 2009
How to Identify Fair Trade Products
There are two key symbols to look for when you are shopping Fair Trade: a certification label for products and a logo for organizations. Each symbol serves different purposes, so here’s a quick overview of what each stands for.
Where to find it: On all products certified by TransFair USA. Currently coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla – and products containing those ingredients – are available in the US.
What it means: The Fair Trade Certified™ label guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product.
Where to find it: Look for this label in store windows, shelf displays, and websites where you shop. Or look for the words: “member of the Fair Trade Federation” on products.
What it means: This symbol means that a company has been rigorously evaluated for its commitment to Fair Trade criteria, including fair wages, safe, healthy, and participatory workplaces, environmental practices, and direct and long-term relationships. Whether buying home furnishings, clothing, coffee, or gifts, you will know that Fair Trade lies at the heart of the companies who are part of FTF.
Join TransFair USA, the Fair Trade Resource Network and countless others in helping to set a new record for the World’s Largest Fair Trade Coffee Break!
World Fair Trade Day is an international celebration of all things Fair Trade, whether it’s the Fair Trade Certified products you enjoy at the supermarket or Fair Trade handicrafts from artisans around the world.
When we support Fair Trade, we not only support the people who make the items we consume and enjoy, we also support the environment, women’s rights, children’s education, cultural dignity and peace building. That’s a powerful thing to do by choosing Fair Trade products!
So what are you waiting for? Get involved this World Fair Trade Day. J oin the World’s Largest Fair Trade Coffee Break on or around May 9th, by pledging to get involved and encouraging your friends and family, too .
Getting involved is simple:
- Take the World Fair Trade Day Pledge
Support the World’s Largest Coffee Break at home by pledging to enjoy a Fair Trade food or beverage with family and friends on or around May 9th. Host a dinner party with all Fair Trade Certified ingredients, enjoy a morning cup of Fair Trade Certified coffee with your newspaper or celebrate Mother’s Day with Fair Trade Certified flowers and tea.
Take the World Fair Trade Day pledge here and add your name to the thousands of supporters making a difference in the lives of farmers and artisans by choosing Fair Trade. Share your commitment by forwarding this action to a friend and help us reach our goal of 55,000 supporters for Fair Trade.
- Host a World Fair Trade Day Event
Help us take back the record for World’s Largest Coffee Break set by Fair Trade Finland, who organized 50,000 people in October 2008 to surpass the previous record set by the United States in May of last year.
With your help we hope to involve more churches, synagogues, businesses, schools, villages, towns and cities then ever before. At your Fair Trade Break, be to serve at least one Fair Trade food or drink, and provide information on Fair Trade.
Have a Fair Trade food tasting, talk, musical event, fashion show and much more – to promote Fair Trade and campaign for trade justice for farmers and artisans around the world. Any and all events can incorporate the Fair Trade Break!
Don’t forget to register your event at www.ftrn.org for free Fair Trade goodies and advice from the Fair Trade Resource Network and to order World Fair Trade Day posters and postcards free of charge.
Then register your event at getinvolved.transfairusa.org to order general educational materials on Fair Trade to hand out at your event, Fair Trade Certified buttons, stickers and iron-ons, as well as films and discussion guides, to make your event a success!
- Help Us Reach 55,000 for Fair Trade on Facebook!
We are really excited to make this action available to you all as a cause on Facebook. Be sure to add yourselves to the Fair Trade Certified and Fair Trade Resource Network Fan Pages and endorse and forward the World Fair Trade Day 2009 cause.
Take the pledge on Facebook and then forward it to all of your friends and family with a personal note about why you support Fair Trade. Then don’t forget to enjoy your Fair Trade Break with friends on May 9th!