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.

October was the 8th Annual Fair Trade Month

October was the 8th annual Fair Trade Month in the United States. Fair Trade month was started by Fair Trade USA, Fair Trade Federation and Fair Trade Resource Network to raise awareness of the positive impact purchasing fair trade products has. The main reasons why fair trade is important, is the opportunities it offers to producers (mainly in developing countries) to earn a sustainable wage and invest in the social development of their communities while decreasing the environmental harm caused by other production methods.

Generally throughout the month, fair trade and ethically minded consumers and  fair trade vendors join forces to celebrate and promote Fair Trade. Numerous education events, and other product focused activities proliferate during the month to help increase awareness and sales of Fair Trade Certified products, with the end goal of improved livelihoods for farmers and workers in developing countries. A few highlights included:

• Reverse Trick-or-Treating: Tables were turned and trick-or-treaters handed Fair Trade chocolate back to adults, with informational cards attached, to explain the problems of the cocoa industry and how Fair Trade presents a solution.

• Fair Trade Finder App: the first-of-its-kind crowd-sourced directory that lets you find, add, tag and photograph Fair Trade Certified products wherever you are. The new “Fair Trade Finder” Facebook and mobile (iPhone and Android) application is FREE and can be downloaded at Android and iTunes.

• La Mesa Fair Trade Gift Faire:  We had a wonderful turn out and would like to thank vendors: Around the World Fair Trade Gifts, Ben & Jerry's Fair Trade Ice Cream, 7 Hopes United Fair Trade Gifts, Revisit Sustainable Fair Trade Gifts, Dr. Bronners Fair Trade Soaps, Angell Organic Fair Trade Candy Bars, Spacebar Internet Cafe for Fair Trade ACAI, Pallas Athene Soaps, Cafe Virtuoso-Fair Trade Coffee, Plant with Purpose, 5th grade parents for support of Fair Trade as a fundraiser and the Guatemala Project.