Fair Trade Webinars are in the Air! Read about what’s coming up, plus how Fair Trade advocates expressed themselves to Hershey’s CEO this Valentine’s Day.

Photo Credit: FTRN

WEBINAR: HOW TO HOST A GREAT WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY EVENT

The Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) is producing a free webinar on How to Host a Great World Fair Trade Day Event on March 3 from 8-9pm EST. Yours truly will be moderating this informative webinar aimed at providing info and advice to those interested in planning their own World Fair Trade Day event. The webinar panelists will be Stefanie Colish, FTRN’s WFTD Organizer Coordinator, and Jeff Goldman, FTRN’s Executive Director.

Register for this free webinar here: FTRN website

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FREE PERKS FOR WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY EVENT ORGANIZERS

World Fair Trade Day events are happening between May 1-15, 2011, and some organizers who register their event (for free) online are receiving fantastic Fair Trade products to incorporate into their event, like these added recently:
•    Theo Chocolate will donate chocolate to 20 events between 200-500 people
•   Lucuma designs will donate 10 gift baskets of crafts to 10 WFTD events
•    10 events with more than 100 people attending will receive $15 gift certificates for clothing from Maggie’s Organics

How do you receive these awesome Fair Trade goodies? Just register your event on the FTRN Events Calendar to receive an email on how to request all special offers. Find complete info about WFTD here.

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HERSHEY CEO SURPRISE + MUST-SEE KIDS VALENTINES

Hershey CEO David West received a surprise this Valentine’s Day! A box of flowers was delivered directly to West’s office, containing handmade valentines from children outraged at Hershey’s’ continued use of cocoa that has not been Fair Trade certified to be free of child labor or cocoa prices that perpetuate poverty.  The valentines ask Hershey to “Go Fair Trade.”

Check out this must-see web page to view nearly 200 cute, funny valentines included in the box or sent directly to Hershey.

This action to pressure Hershey to go Fair Trade was a collaborative effort coordinated by Global Exchange and our Raise the Bar Campaign partners International Labor Rights Forum, Green America and Oasis.

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FREE WEBINAR: JOINING THE FAIR TRADE FEDERATION

When: March 1, 2011, 1:00pm EST
Interested in having your Canadian or US-based business join the Fair Trade Federation community? Have questions about the qualifications? Learn all you need to know during this FREE Webinar for prospective members.

Learn more and register here.

FREE WEBINAR: WHY BRING FT (F) INTO YOUR STORE

When: March 8, 2011, 1:00pm EST

Own a store? Attend this webinar to learn just how easy it is to bring Fair Trade Federation members’ products into your store, as well as how you can benefit from offering high-quality products with tremendous societal and cultural impact during this Free Webinar.  Learn more and register here.

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Check back each week right here on our Fair Trade blog for more Fair Trade News Round-Ups…your one-stop shop for current Fair Trade news and events. And if you’ve got big Fair Trade news to share, email me!

Here’s your weekly roundup of the latest news and updates related to Fair Trade:

IN THE FAIR TRADE MOVEMENT…

BIG NEWS: 1-800-Flowers pledges to begin selling FT flowers

How did this change come about? Change.org sums it up:

Late last week, the largest florist in the world, 1-800-Flowers, responded to 54,000 Change.org members and agreed to begin selling Fair Trade flowers and insist on a strong code of conduct for all their suppliers to counteract the deplorable working conditions that thousands of female flower workers face in South America. They’ve promised to offer Fair Trade flowers in time for Mother’s Day, making 1-800-Flowers a leader in the industry.

CONFERENCE: 2011 Fair Trade Federation Conference: Building UP Fair Trade

When: May 6-8, 2011
Where: Milwaukee, WI
Details: Build UP your business knowledge, Build UP momentum for Fair Trade, and Build UP our community!
The conference will include: practical training on the business of Fair Trade combined with opportunities for networking, community building, and discussion of key issues facing the broader movement.
More details and to register: Fair Trade Federation website
Discount: Save $100 / person if you register before March 11

WEBINAR: “Sustainable Labor: Domestic Farmworker Conditions & the Fair Food Movement”

When: Mar. 8 2011; 10-11:30am PST
Cost: FREE
Register: online
Registration questions? Melissa Schweisguth
General Questions? Ron Strochlic
Developed & Coordinated by: Ron Strochlic, Food Systems Consultant; Former Director, CA Institute for Rural Studies
Hosted by: The Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association

Webinar Summary:
This webinar will combine clips from “Fair Food: Field to Table,” a brief video documenting the movement for fair food in the United States, with presentations from industry experts. They’ll share three short, compelling and informative video segments highlighting current farmworker conditions, as well as good farm labor conditions and businesses and advocates working for change. Each segment will be followed by a brief presentation and Q& A with experts featured in the video.

Moderator: Ron Strochlic, Food Systems Consultant
Speakers:

  • Gerardo Reyes, Co-Director, Coalition of Immokalee Workers
  • Tim Schultz, VP of Administration, Lundberg Family Farms
  • Richard Mandelbaum, Domestic Fair Trade Association; Agricultural Justice Project; Policy Director, Farmworker Support Committee (Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas)
  • Maisie Greenawalt, Vice President, Bon Appetit Management Company

Photo Credit: EverJean/flickrARTICLE TO READ: Chocolate Is Sweet, but Chocolate Policy Would Be Sweeter

If you read the Fair Trade Roundup last week, you know that Bon Appetit, a national restaurant company, recently announced a commitment to introduce Fair Trade Certified chocolate in all of its kitchens. Since then, Helene York, director of strategic initiatives for Bon-Appetit Management Company, wrote the article Chocolate Is Sweet, but Chocolate Policy Would Be Sweeter.

Here’s my favorite part:

I’m proud to share that officially as of today, our chefs at Bon Appetit Management Company are now baking with this (Fair Trade) chocolate—making their brownies, cookies, and novelties like the strawberry-chocolate stilettos shown here. We’re buying in huge, food-service-sized quantities, and, hopefully, growing the market so it will be viable for direct-to-consumer sales in the near future.

FAIR TRADE USA PANELIST JUST ADDED TO UPCOMING WEBINAR ON CONTENT STANDARDS:

The upcoming Fair Trade Resource Network webinar Minimum Fair Trade Content Standards for Multi-ingredient Products will now be joined by Fair Trade USA’s Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, Mary Jo Cook.
Date: February 28
Time: 2:00-2:50pm EST
Investment: $5 bucks
Presenters: Dr. Bronner’s CEO, David Bronner; Fair Trade USA’s VP of Business Development and Marketing, Mary Jo Cook ; Ben & Jerry’s Director of Social Mission, Rob Michalak
Register Here.

Check back each week right here on our Fair Trade blog for more Fair Trade News Round-Ups…your one-stop shop for current Fair Trade news and events. And if you’ve got big Fair Trade news to share, email me!

What started as a once-in-a while blog post is now a weekly series. There’s lots going on in the Fair Trade movement, so look to our weekly Round Ups for current updates. Each Round Up will feature two sections: Fair Trade Movement News and Global Exchange Fair Trade News.

FAIR TRADE MOVEMENT NEWS

Photo credit: Fast Company

Restaurant giant Bon Appetit announced a commitment to introduce Cordillera Fair Trade Certified chocolate in all of its kitchens. Fast Company’s Ariel Schwartz reports on this recent development:

Fair Trade Chocolate hit the big time this week as restaurant management giant Bon Appetit announced a commitment to introduce Cordillera Fair Trade Certified chocolate in all of its kitchens beginning on Valentine’s Day. This is a big deal–Bon Appetit provides cafe and catering services to corporations, colleges, and universities in 400 locations throughout 29 states. When the company makes a change in its food sourcing practices, it has a ripple effect. Read the entire article here.

Fair Trade Resource Network Webinars

–Fair Trade Webinar 105 Community Discussion of TransFair’s Name Change to Fair Trade USA, and Pending Service Mark Application took place on 2/9/2011. Panelists included Fair Trade USA CEO Paul Rice, Equal Exchange’s Answer Man Rodney North and United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries Minister for Economic Justice, Edie Rassell. If you missed it, you can download the webinar for just $5 or wait until March 30th when it will become available for free on FTRN’s website.

–Fair Trade Webinar 106 Minimum Fair Trade Content Standards for Multi-ingredient Products is coming up. Here are the details of this highly anticipated webinar:
Date: February 28
Time: 2:00-2:50pm EST
Investment: just $5!
Details: Minimum Fair Trade Content Standards for Multi-ingredient Products
Presenters: Dr. Bronner’s CEO, David Bronner; Ben & Jerry’s Director of Social Mission, Rob Michalak

World Fair Trade Day 2011 Poster Design

Take Part in World Fair Trade Day
To join in the World Fair Trade Day celebration, the Fair Trade Resource Network is inviting you to host a World Fair Trade Day event during May 1-15 and post your event to their website to help promote it.

Download the free World Fair Trade Day (WFTD) Activities Guide for tips, ideas, and resources, plus order WFTD promotional posters and postcards, and Fair Trade products – most free of charge – all on their website www.FTRN.org.

ILO and Kuapa Kokoo partner to combat child labor in cocoa industry

The International Labour Organization (ILO)  has announced it will partner with Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union in a two-year project to assist the government of Ghana in reducing child labour. The pilot will run in 15 cocoa-growing communities affiliated with Kuapa Kokoo, the only Fairtrade certified cocoa cooperative in Ghana. The project focuses on preventing and removing children from hazardous work on cocoa farms. This includes livelihood support for vulnerable families and setting up a child labour monitoring system. Learn more here.

GLOBAL EXCHANGE FAIR TRADE NEWS

Coco-Zen Chocolate Truffles

Fair Trade Chocolate Tasting

Join us this Sunday, February 13th, for a Fair Trade chocolate tasting. San Francisco-based artisan chocolate company Coco-Zen will be providing organic, Fair Trade Certified chocolate to sample this Sunday afternoon. Bring the kids to make Valentines cards, or use our color-your-own Valentines to ask Hershey’s to go fair trade.

When: Sunday, February 13. 1pm-4pm.
Where: Global Exchange Fair Trade Store in Noe Valley (b/t Noe and Castro).
Price: FREE!

Global Exchange Fair Trade Internship
March 7th is the application deadline for summer internships at Global Exchange. So if you’re looking for a Fair Trade summer internship, visit the internship web page for more info and to apply to our Fair Trade department. Global Exchange’s internship program offers great work experience, as well as fun weekly training seminars with dozens of other interns throughout the organization.

Send a Valentine Message to Hershey’s
Make valentines (or print out and color in this pdf) asking the Hershey’s CEO to start sourcing Fair Trade Certified cocoa. Global Exchange will email you a coupon for 10% off your purchase at any Global Exchange store if you scan your valentine and email it to us to be posted online. Deadline to email all valentines is Friday, February 18.  Visit our website for more details.

WIN Fair Trade prizes by telling educators about Fair Trade curriculum

That’s right…you can win Fair Trade prizes just by telling educators about Global Exchange’s Fair Trade curriculum. This information helps teachers teach the issues of child labor in the cocoa industry. Educators can win prizes by teaching the curriculum, too. More info here.

Host a Dark Side of Chocolate Screening during National Week of Action.

I did, which you can read about here. We make it easy for you to show this compelling new documentary about the continued use of child labor and trafficking in the cocoa industry. Order a copy plus a screening toolkit for just $6.

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Check back each week right here on our Fair Trade blog for more Fair Trade News Round-Ups…your one-stop shop for current Fair Trade news and events. And if you’ve got big Fair Trade news to share, email me!

Another busy week for the Fair Trade movement. From online debates and upcoming webinars to film screenings, here’s your friendly Fair Trade round-up:

‘Who Owns Fair Trade?’ Debate Heats Up:

Debate surrounding TransFair USA’s decision to change their name to Fair Trade USA continues throughout the movement. Check out Zarah’s blog post Who Owns Fair Trade from last week and Equal Exchange’s To Tell the Truth: Who Owns Fair Trade posted earlier today.

Fair Trade Webinar about TransFair’s Name Change Coming Up:

The highly anticipated webinar A Community Discussion of TransFair’s Name Change to Fair Trade USA, and Pending Service Mark Application, brought to you by the Fair Trade Resource Network, is happening next week. This is your chance to ask questions and add comments.
Date: February 9th, 2011
Time: 1:00-1:50 EST
Investment: just $5
Presenters: Fair Trade USA’s CEO, Paul Rice; Equal Exchange’s Answer Man, Rodney North; United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries Minister for Economic Justice, Edie Rassell

To register and for more info visit the Fair Trade Resource Network website.

United Students for Fair Trade 7th Annual National Convergence:

This year the theme is ‘Igniting a Movement: Fair Trade Universities’ and the event is taking place Friday March 18th – Sunday March 20th 2011 in Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY. Hosted by United Students for Fair Trade (USFT) & Fair Trade Universities, the National Convergence is open to anyone interested in giving their university or high school official Fair Trade status.

This is an opportunity to learn more about Fair Trade, to share experiences and challenges in becoming a Fair Trade institution, or to find out more about how to start a Fair Trade campaign. Learn more on the USFT website.

Dark Side of Chocolate Film Screening National Week of Action:

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and National Week of Action for Dark Side of Chocolate screenings runs from February 4-14, 2011. This is a documentary that goes undercover to reveal the bitter truth about child slavery in the cocoa industry.

If you’d like to host your own screening all the info you need is provided on the Global Exchange website. You’ll be able to order the dvd plus download the Dark Side Toolkit.

San Francisco Screening: yours truly will be hosting this screening next Sunday Feb. 6th at SF Certified Green Business Doc’s Clock bar. The night will include Fair Trade chocolate tasting and a make-your-own Valentines station! Click here for event details and to watch the movie trailer.

Graphic Credit: Fair Trade Resource Network

World Fair Trade Day Campaign Launches:

World Fair Trade Day is the largest Fair Trade event of the year in N. America. Events will be happening between May 1-15, 2011. Find out to get involved on the Fair Trade Resource Network website.

Businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches, student groups, civic associations, families, stores and advocates host hundreds of events – including Fair Trade food tastings, talks, music concerts, fashion shows and much more – to promote Fair Trade and campaign for trade justice together with farmers & artisans.

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Got big Fair Trade news you’d like us to share in future Fair Trade Round-ups? Share in the Comments section or email me!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, lot’s of people have chocolate on the brain. (Hopefully Fair Trade chocolate!) This year, to mark the occasion I decided to host a San Francisco screening of the film Dark Side of Chocolate, the documentary that goes undercover to reveal the bitter truth about child slavery in the cocoa industry.

Here’s why:
1. The Global Exchange Fair Trade campaign makes its easy to host this event (see below for just how easy.)
2. Many of my friends are unaware of what’s happening in the cocoa industry or what Fair Trade is all about. Hosting this screening seems like a great way to raise awareness with them and others who attend.
3. It doesn’t cost much (the film DVD and event toolkit cost just 6 bucks when you order online.)

Details for Dark Side of Chocolate Screening in San Francisco:

Flyer Design: Doran Shelley www.doranshelley.com

When: Sunday, February 6th 2011 at 8:00 pm (Super Bowl fans welcome!) Event Begins: 8pm Film Starts: 8:30pm
Where: Doc’s Clock 2575 Mission Street (Bet 21st & 22nd) San Francisco, CA
Price: $5-$25 sliding scale; no one turned away for lack of funds (must be 21+ years old with proper ID)
Event Highlights:

  • Film Showing of Dark Side of Chocolate
  • Fair Trade chocolate tasting courtesy of Alter Eco
  • Make Your Own Valentines — supplies will be provided including color-your-own Valentines asking Hershey to go Fair Trade
  • Fair Trade Introduction by Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign Director Adrienne Fitch Frankel
  • Stiff drinks courtesy of Amesia, bartender extraordinaire and Fair Trade advocate
  • Proceeds benefit the Global Exchange Fair Trade Campaign

To Host Your Own Film Screening:

Now is THE perfect time to host a screening of your own. The National Week of Action for Dark Side of Chocolate screenings runs from February 4-14, 2011. So if you’d like to host your own screening all the info you need is provided on the Global Exchange website. You’ll be able to order the dvd plus download the Dark Side Toolkit.

Hosting a Dark Side of Chocolate film screening is not only a great way to raise awareness and action, but it is also a great way to raise critical resources for the Global Exchange Fair Trade campaign and help put an end to child labor and trafficking on cocoa farms. And I can tell you from experience, once you decide to host a screening, people will come out of the woodwork to help!

Dark Side of Chocolate movie trailer:

The week has been a busy one for the Fair Trade movement. From petitions to conference announcements, here’s your friendly Fair Trade rundown:

Photo Credit: Fair Trade Futures Conference

The Next U.S. Fair Trade Conference Just Announced: The Fair Trade Federation will host a conference in Milwaukee, WI May 6th-8th, 2011 to examine the business of Fair Trade. This is such new news that it’s not even up on the Fair Trade Federation website yet, but I’m guessing it will be soon so check there for updates.

Graphic Credit: Organic Consumers Association

New Petition raises question about ownership of the term “Fair Trade”: Launched earlier this week on Organic Consumers Association’s website, this petition urges TransFairUSA not to change its name to “Fair Trade USA” after TransFair USA applied for the name to be trademarked.

New ArtisanWork online forum topic announced! The new forum will cover Trend Report Interpretation and run from January 20th- February 5th. Expect an overview of Trend reports and learn ways of using that information to more accurately target consumers. ArtisanWork is an information gateway for artisans around the world and the people who work with them to connect, learn, and share information.

The Fair Trade Resource Network wants YOU to design Fair Trade webinars: Following four successful pilot webinars in 2010, FTRN announced plans to expand their webinar program in 2011 and they want you to help choose the topics. There is a brief (2 questions brief!) online survey here where you can choose topics you are (and aren’t) interested in learning about, plus there’s space for you to suggest topics not listed.

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So that’s what’s new in the US Fair Trade movement this week. Do you have Fair Trade related news to add? Feel free to share it in the Comments section.

The following is a cross-post from our People to People blog:

All Global Exchange members are invited to join us for a Fair Trade Store Holiday Celebration.

We’ll be staying open late for one night only, December 8th from 5PM – 8PM, giving members the chance to shop for gifts that make a difference while enjoying refreshments, mingling with like minded people, and saving 20%

That’s right…all Global Exchange members will receive 20% OFF their entire order during this holiday event!

Our Fair Trade stores offer shoppers a way to be a powerful force for social change. With unique treasures made by Fair Trade artisans and farmers in over 40 different countries to choose from, you should have no trouble finding something for everyone on your holiday list.

If you don’t live near any of our store locations: remember you can shop for Fair Trade gifts online right from your computer!

If you live near one of our stores, we hope you join us for this festive evening of:

  • Holiday cheer and refreshments
  • A free raffle
  • Mixing and mingling with other Global Exchange supporters and staff Conscious Shopping AND Saving…all while knowing your purchase goes to create a more open, fair world.

If you’re a Global Exchange member…be sure to bring your Global Exchange membership card or a printout of the email you received about this event and take 20% off your entire order – plus we’ll throw in a coupon for a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! We’re celebrating Ben & Jerry’s decision to go 100% Fair Trade by 2013.

If you’re not a member yet but would like to be so you can enjoy this event and reap all the other rewards of Global Exchange membership, visit our membership page to join, and bring a printout of your receipt to receive your 20% discount. You can join 40,000+ other Global Exchange members for just $35!

When and Where:

When: Wednesday, December 8th 5PM – 8PM

Where: The following Store Locations:

Washington DC Fair Trade Store
Busboys and Poets
1025 5th St. (at K)
Washington, DC 20001 (map)
202/842-4525

Portland Fair Trade Store
2508 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214 (map)
503/234-4049

San Francisco Fair Trade Store
4018 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114 (map)
415/648-8068

Berkeley Fair Trade Store
2840 College (at Russell)
Berkeley, CA 94705 (map)
510/548-0370

Hope to see you there!

Announcing the highly anticipated third webinar (#103) in a four-part series about Fair Trade Certifications, brought to you by Fair Trade Resource Network. This webinar will compare “Fair Trade Certified” and “Fair for Life” certifications and cover label use, system governance and benefits to producers.

Date: December 6th
Time: 10am-11:30am PST, 1pm-2:30pm EST
Investment: just $5!
Details: Comparing “Fair Trade Certified” and “Fair for Life”: Label Use, System Governance and Benefits to Producers
Presenters: IMO “Fair for Life” U.S. Director, Kerry Hughes, and Deputy Manager IMO Social & Fairtrade Certification, Florentine Meinshausen, and Fair Trade USA Board Chair and FLO Board Member, Michael Conroy

To register and for more info: http://store.fairtraderesourcenetwork.org/collections/webinars.

This webinar is happening soon so register today to secure your spot. Oh, and have your questions ready. As a Fair Trade Resource Network Board member, yours truly will be helping Executive Director Jeff Goldman to make sure your questions get answered.

Hope to “see” you there!

The four-part webinar series runs from Oct-Dec 2010 and consists of 4 separate webinars each covering different aspects of the two prominent certifications in Fair Trade. All webinars are designed for beginner to intermediate level, and are structured to allow over half the time for participants to ask questions to the certification experts.

As a member of the Fair Trade Resource Network Board of Directors, I’m excited to announce the upcoming webinar in FTRN’s four part webinar series on Fair Trade Certifications. This webinar is the second of the series and will cover “Fair for Life” Certification illustrated by following the supply chain from producers to final seller.

Date: November 12
Time: 1:00-2:30pm EST
Investment: just $5!
Details: IMO “Fair for Life” U.S. Director, Kerry Hughes, and Deputy Manager IMO Social & Fairtrade Certification, Florentine Meinshausen, present:
•    Overview of Fair for Life system
•    Mechanics of activities for producers and others in supply chain
•    Use of label and chain of custody requirements, and more

To register and for more info: http://store.fairtraderesourcenetwork.org/collections/webinars.

The four part webinar series runs from Oct-Dec 2010 and consists of 4 separate webinars each covering different aspects of the two prominent certifications in Fair Trade. All webinars are designed for beginner to intermediate level, and are structured to allow over half the time for participants to ask questions to the certification experts.

This webinar is coming up fast so register today to secure your spot. Oh, and come with your questions ready. Yours truly will be helping Executive Director Jeff Goldman to make sure your questions get answered.

Hope to “see” you there!

Celebrate Fair Trade Month by attending a showing of the documentary film The Dark Side of Chocolate or plan your own showing!

This documentary reveals shocking and disturbing new evidence that child labor, trafficking, and slavery are continuing in the cocoa industry, nearly ten years after the cocoa industry pledged to end it.

If you’re in the D.C. area tonight (Tue. Oct. 26th.), the film will be shown at Bus Boys and Poets at the 1025 5th St NW location from 6-8 pm. Expect to hear wonderful speakers and take part in discussion following the film. Divine Chocolate, Fair Trade Federation and Global Exchange (that’s us) staff will be in attendance.

If you’re interested in organizing your own showing of this important (and timely given that Halloween is almost here!) documentary, check out our action center.

Filmmaker Roberto Romano has generously offered for you to screen this film for free; participants will be asked to pay only to cover the cost of DVD replication and postage, which will be approximately $3-5.

“The spookiest thing about Halloween should not be the chocolate.”
~anonymous