Fair Trade Scavenger Hunt 

at Seaport Village!

A Fair Trade Scavenger Hunt was held Wed. Dec. 12th and what an adventure it turned out to be!  Follow the path to seven stores that carry Fair Trade products.  All of us were astonished with the array of Fair Trade products!

1)  Ben & Jerry's has two locations in Seaport Village proudly serving euphoric ice cream with Fair Trade ingredients.  The East Plaza is home to the world's Largest Fair Trade Woody Jackson Cow!

2)  Bringing you fun, witty and beautiful products that are great gifts for yourself or an Urban Girl.   What would your perfect Fair Trade accessory be?  Fair Trade Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces  & more!  URBAN GIRL ACCESSORIES!

3)  Kites, kites and more kites!  But what is Fair Trade with Flite?  Check out the Fair Trade Mayan Pocket Discs at KITE FLITE!

4)  Without the wind, I would make no sound.  Shake this Fair Trade item to make beautiful music at WINDSONG:   Fair Trade Nana Balls, India.

5)  Feeling a bit weary?  Enjoy a little hang time on these: SWING & THINGS   
 Fair Trade Mile 40  (ok...really...Fair Trade Hammocks?)  These are reasonably priced and gorgeous!


6)  Birds of a Feather, Fair Trade together, and although not fair trade, they also lay these chocolate robin eggs.....  A supporter nevertheless!  We thank FROSTED ROBIN for their wonderful cupcakes!

 
  7)  Other than Fair Trade ice-cream, what other locally sourced item can be found at BEN & JERRY'S?   Bananas!

So...if you are shopping at Seaport Village check out the Fair Trade items.  Your purchase makes a difference to the local merchant and supports Fair Trade globally.  

Fair Trade

Holiday

Scavenger Hunt!

Join Fair Trade San Diego and La Mesa Fair Trade for a Taste of Fair Trade!

Wednesday, December 12th

6-8pm

 Meet at Frosted Robin for information. 

A MANO FAIR TRADE celebrated their new location on Dec. 8th in the San Diego area.  The public was invited to see the variety of beautiful products that are Fair Trade. This wholesale company will be expanding its sales in San Diego and La Mesa.  Check out their beautiful on-line products at: amanofairtrade.
Their collection is handmade by over 150 Mayan and Hmong women artisans in Guatemala, Mexico and Northern Thailand.

 
"We are convinced that changing the way we shop can help change the world.  Your Fair Trade purchase comes with a story behind it and contributes to a better life for all."  - aMano Fair Trade

On November 30th vendors featuring fair trade and alternative gifts were on campus. The event was well attended!  Lots of students checked out the many places to buy items for Christmas that make a difference.

Pt Loma Nazarene University has held this event for 3 years and it is growing with each event. Over 600 people attended last year.  A campaign for a Fair Trade University was recently registered through Fair Trade Colleges & Universities.

Student organizers of the event are members of the Pt. Loma Fair Trade Club. PLFTC exists as a student organization that seeks to give voice to and advocate for Fair Trade practices among the students and faculty at Point Loma Nazarene University. Through education and discussion they hope to educate the greater student body about the purpose and importance of fair trade practices.

 

 

Sixth International Fair Trade Towns Conference

A delegation of 6 Fair Trade Town organizers from the US flew across the pond to Poznan Poland for the 6th International Fair Trade Towns Conference on November 10.  There are 1,227 Fair Trade Towns in 24 countries and all 6 major continents - we have the potential to create the largest movement the world has ever seen." Bruce Crowther, Founder of the 1st Fair Trade Town

A Fair Trade Towns & Universities Conference took place Oct. 26-28, 2012 in Chicago. At the conference Anne Pacheco & Nancy Ryan, Co-Chairs of the La Mesa Fair Trade Steering Committee, were given the long awaited certificate declaring La Mesa a Fair Trade Town!   Plans are in process for a formal presentation & celebration involving La Mesa residents and city officials. There will be media coverage of the event.  Watch for the date coming soon.  All are invited!



"Building Partnerships for a Stronger Movement" was the theme.  Here are a few pictures from the Marketplace!

 San Diego Living, Channel 6 featured Fair Trade Month on its segment, "Eco Revolution" featuring Tiger Palafox on October 23, 2012.  He showed various fair trade products from local San Diego and La Mesa vendors.  The link will be included soon for viewing.   Our choices matter.  Consumers can choose high quality and affordable fairly traded products locally! Thank you to Fair Trade business owners: Around the World Gifts, 7 Hopes United, Fair Trade Decor and Open Door Books.

La Mesa Fair Trade Town campaign has received a commendation from Mayor Art Madrid endorsing the progress made in La Mesa and recommending to Fair Trade Towns USA that the city be declared a  FAIR TRADE TOWN.  Throughout the campaign it was gratifying to have the mayor's support, along with that of La Mesa merchants, service organizations, and faith-based communities. With the official commendation, the minimum requirements to have La Mesa officially proclaimed a FT Town by Fair Trade Towns USA are completed.  We are excited for what this means for our city as well as the good that is accomplished in relation to the use of FT products.  The work of promoting Fair Trade will continue.

Beautiful Fair Trade items were for sale at the La Mesa Fair Trade Gift Faire! Supporting the logo: " Buy Local, Buy Fair", vendors in the La Mesa and San Diego area brought handmade items from artisians and growers in developing countries.  The event was a great success.   We  thank  Mayor Art Madrid who spoke to many of our vendors & the Fair Trade Town Steering Committee.   Mayor Madrid has signed a Commendation for La Mesa as a Fair Trade Town.  We thank him, and are waiting for the final declaration from Fair Trade Towns USA.



The demand for products that make a difference is growing.  We thank the vendors who participated and those who shopped!

KUSI 51 stopped by for short info bits for the news.  We are excited that they feel Fair Trade is news worthy..... (like we do!)

Fair Trade bananas are a big deal!  Sold at Whole Foods in Hillcrest, these bananas are organic and Fair Trade.  Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world.  Bananas are produced around the world on both small and large-scale farms.  The unfortunate reality of many banana growing communities is that they are often  plagued by inadequate wages; low levels of education; lack of social and labor protections or health benefits.  Let's not even mention the pesticides.  With the goal of helping to alleviate these conditions, Fair Trade certification of bananas began to develop in the US in 2004.  Since then, Fair Trade has been supporting improved living situations and promoting tremendous social, economic, and environmental development for banana framers, workers and their communities. 

Fair & Fashionable!

Fair and Fashionable - Celebrating Fair Trade month through sustainable fashion! 

The evening of festivities, food, film and fashion was enjoyed by all!  Students modeled Fair Trade clothing and accessories on Thursday, Oct. 11 at USD University Center Forum C. 

Models wore clothes from Mata Traders.  

SDFT had a great turn out at Toma Sol Cafe on September 9th! Everyone enjoyed the food and drinks during the happy hour.  The talk of the evening included La Mesa Fair Trade and their progress with their city council, the upcoming celebration of USD declaration on Tuesday, 9/18, the FT fashion show sponsored by SDFT and the La Mesa Gift Fair.    Lucia Ruth represented Malia Designs and brought samples for us to check out.






 Malia Designs is a socially responsible Fair Trade brand that designs and sells handbags and accessories. Their products are handcrafted in Cambodia and every purchase helps to fight Human Trafficking.  Malia Designs will be available for purchase at the fashion show and La Mesa Fair Trade event in October.

The Bazaar del Mundo shop carries one of the largest 

FT home and fashions items in San Diego. 

Diane Powers, founder and owner of Bazaar del Mundo Shops in Old Town is focusing on bringing the awareness of Fair Trade to the public and to her shops!  In her recent article originally published on 8/23/12 in the UT,  Diane emphasizes that her stores have carried FT items for the home and fashion for over 35 years. She encourages shoppers to read the labels! Check out:  " 'Fair Trade' Makes Fairly Big Difference".






Some highlights of the article include:

76 percent of fair trade production is done by women; 69 percent of artisans and farmers involved in fair trade are ethnic minorities; Central America and South Asia remain the predominant souce for FT.

Fair Trade has soared globally.  In 2007 FT sales amounted to approximately $3.62 billion worldwide, a 47 percent year-to-year increase.  Fifty-eight developing countries have embraced it.

Fair Trade is not just about equitable pay: the practice and extra cents support other important missions. Fair Trade supports job training, community education, sustainability and community infrastructure for vital needs such as schools, water projects and health clinics.   An example would be last year's floods in Pakistan.  Because of the higher wages, homes of FT producers were able to build stronger structures and therefore survived the floods better than their neighbors.

"By buying FT you are about to join the thousands of today's consumers who are inspired to add 'socially responsible' to their shopping experience." - Diane Powers

La Mesa Fair Trade welcomes the opening of Bugsy's Brew Coffee!  Located between Jackson and La Mesa Blvd. , Bugsy's Brew features Fair Trade coffee from Ryan Brothers in San Diego.  Stop by between 7am and 4pm for a great cup of coffee and fresh baked goods!  bugsysbrewcoffee.com

 

  BizCenterArt Event

Fair Trade handcrafts were featured at the BizCenterArt Event in La Mesa. Around the World Fair Trade Gifts owner, Evangely talked about FT to art patrons and offered FT chocolate as they toured the offices displaying art for sale under $100.

 

 

 

 

La Mesa Farmers Market:

Check out Around the World Gifts at the La Mesa Farmers Market each week.  La Mesa Fair Trade Steering Committee will be on hand to talk about fair trade in La Mesa.  Pictured is Anne Pacheco, Dennis Andolsek, and Nancy Ryan with Evangley, second from the right.

 









The La Mesa Rotary welcomed speakers, Nancy Ryan and Anne Pacheco on May 30th.

On May 17, 2012, Dawn Stary-Sweeney, president of Fair Trade San Diego, presented the video, "Binding Together a Thousand Fibers through Fair Trade at Cosmos Coffee Cafe.  It was an opportunity to become aware of the wide variety of fair trade certified handcrafts and gift items available. 

Ben & Jerry's Fair Trade ice-cream was free for all who attended.  The featured ice-cream was the Jimmy Fallon, "Late Night Special"!

A meet and greet was held after the presentation.

Evangley, owner of Around the World Gifts in Old Town featured many fair trade gifts.  Her store is located at 2611 Congress Street San Diego.  http://www.aroundtheworldgifts.biz

"It’s All About Chocolate!" event was held on April 19, 2012 at Cosmos Coffee Cafe.  Everyone enjoyed sampling Fair Trade chocolate and sipping on Fair Trade Mexican hot cocoa after learning about what the Fair Trade labels stand for.  Samples included Green & Blacks Organic, Angell Organic Candy Bar, Theo, Larabar, Equal Exchange, Alter Eco, Divine and a KitKat bars from the UK!  (complements of "All Things Bright and British")

Fair Trade chocolate can be found at Sprouts, Albertsons, Target, Wild Oats, Walgreens, Windmill Farms, Keils, Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market and Vons.  Fair Trade KitKats will only be found at All Things Bright and British in La Mesa.

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Earth Faire on Mt Helix was well attended this year!   La Mesa Fair Trade motto is: "Buy Local, Buy Fair".  Those who came to our booth learned about Fair Trade and which local La Mesa merchants carry or serve Fair Trade products. 

Please support La Mesa merchants by purchasing Fair Trade certified products. These products are not made or grown in the United States. Your purchase choices make a difference that extends beyond our local community.  Choosing a Fair Trade coffee brand at your work, makes a difference!  Shop at Costco for  Starbucks or Kirkland's Fair Trade coffee, Target for Archer Farms,  Albertsons, Vons, Sprouts, Trader Joes and more.  All these stores carry Fair Trade coffee & more  (Green Mountain, Paul Newman' Own, etc.) Even better - buy from you local cafes that only use Fair Trade coffee:  Cosmos Coffee Cafe, @Spacebar Internet Cafe, Marcella June's Coffee Lounge, Ricos Cafe, Vic's Deli and Cafe.  Check out La Mesa Bistro and Bakery & Swami' Cafe  Fair Trade expresso.    Most use local San Diego roasters!   Make a better choice....La Mesa!

On February 16, 2012 about 50 people enjoyed free scoops of Fair Trade Ice Cream at Cosmos Coffee Cafe.  Ephraim Mallari, who owns the Ben & Jerry's outlet at Seaport Village, explained why his company supports Fair Trade and why they use Fair Trade ingredients:  vanilla, chocolate, coffee, almonds, and more. Ben and Jerry's will be 100% Fair Trade with all their products by 2013.

A Fair Trade trip to Costa Rica, offered by Rainbow Travel & Cruise, is in the works for 2013!  More information will be posted soon.

In January, La Mesa residents and merchants gathered to learn about Fair Trade, what products are available and to view, "The Story of Fair Trade".  Everyone enjoyed free samples of several different brands of Fair Trade chocolate.