Fair Trade the Holidays

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

I know it's a little early to be thinking about it, but what are your plans for holiday shopping? Do you plan to go out early on Black Friday and wait in line for the good deals? Or are you going to skip Black Friday and just head out late Thanksgiving night? Maybe you're the Cyber Monday kind of person and don't even want to touch a mall or brick-and-mortar store.

I am planning to give Fair Trade gifts for Christmas (and Hanukkah). I already have a list of things I want to buy from Mira Fair Trade for family and friends, even a few of my professors.

Global Exchange is having a Holiday Gift Challenge, with "Six Fabulous Reasons to Give Fair Trade":

1. Each gift empowers farmers and artisans with dignified work, and adequate incomes to access nutrition, health care, education, etc. for their families.
2. If all of us Give Fair Trade this year, our collective purchasing power will have an enormous impact on lifting families out of poverty.
3. Great Fair Trade gifts are available for everyone on your list, both kids and adults (even coworker/corporate gifts, like bags of Fair Trade coffee).
4. Giving Fair Trade gifts is an easy way to shift some of your purchasing to Fair Trade.
5. You will educate the person receiving the gift about Fair Trade.
6. Make holiday shopping a breeze…walk into a Fair Trade shop (or online store) with your holiday shopping list and walk out with your holiday shopping complete!

I want to provide a list of places where you can buy Fair Trade, either in person or online. Since I am based in Pittsburgh, that is where I have focused my research.There are a few Fair Trade gift fairs, holiday bazaars, craft shows, and other holiday shopping events around the Pittsburgh area through the end of November and early December. 

• Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular - November 22-24, 2013 at the Monroeville Convention Center (Mira Fair Trade will be there!)

• Fair Trade Marketplace - November 23 and December 6-8, 2013 at the Environmental Charter School

• Fair Trade Week/Marketplace - December 2-5, 2013 at Duquesne University

• Building New Hope - non-profit working with coffee co-ops, based in Pittsburgh, PA (http://www.buildingnewhope.org/where-to-buy.html)

• Mira Fair Trade - Upper St. Clair-based Fair Trade business specializing in handmade scarves, bags, home decor, and other accessories from India

• Fair Trade Holiday Gift Guide 2013 - Fair Trade Federation, list of online and physical retailers

• Ten Thousand Villages Pittsburgh - Ten Thousand Villages started in 1946 and was the first retailer to offer Fair Trade products (online and in-store)

• Equal Exchange - Fair Trade coffee, tea, food products and other items (Online)

• Give Fair Trade Blog - List of retailers in-store and online who partner with Global Exchange

In any case, I would like for you to attempt to buy at least one thing that is Fair Trade this holiday season. You can buy it for yourself, a family member, significant other, a friend, a teacher, your boss, or a co-worker. There are so many Fair Trade items on the market ranging from coffee to clothing. Everything is unique, and you can begin the process of buying Fair Trade with one gift. Pass it on and teach others to buy Fair Trade. 


http://www.globalexchange.org/sites/default/files/FTResolution.pdf