St. Peter Food Coop

Saturday, May 11 is World Fair Trade Day – a day to celebrate the greatness that is Fair Trade.  Before you put your party hats on let’s talk about what Fair Trade is, why we should celebrate it, and how the Co-op participates in the Fair Trade movement. 

Fair Trade is a lot of things all rolled into one.  It is an equitable business practice that guarantees producers and workers earn their fair share of the profit and giving them greater independence and more control of their markets.  It is good for individuals as it protects producers and workers from exploitation, unsafe and unethical working conditions, and prevents child labor.  At a community level, Fair Trade encourages greater environmental stewardship and community development. 

Jessica and Emma from the “Banana branch” of Equal Exchange made the trek to St. Peter in March and shared their expertise with us.

So, why should you care about and buy local and Fair Trade?  Great questions!   As a consumer, it means that you are empowered to make choices that have a positive influence on the local and global community.  When buying Fair Trade and local products, you know your money is being distributed fairly and you are supporting a system designed for positive change.   It is a system to make you feel confident in your purchasing choices and to easily effect change on a regular basis – just by buying the products you know and love!

Dimitri’s banana bread with Equal Exchange Bananas and Chocolate!

Fair Trade at the Co-op

Here at St. Peter Food Co-op, we understand the importance of Fair Trade and the impact it can have on our community and beyond.   This is why we strive to stock our shelves wit  Fair Trade certified good and local products. 

The Co-op participates in the Fair Trade community by selling Fair Trade Certified goods and by buying from vendors that follow Fair Trade principals.  You can find certified goods by looking for this symbol, found in many parts of the store.  And good news! You can find the Fair Trade label on more than just coffee and chocolate (although, really, what else do you need?).  Look for the Fair Trade labels throughout the store – produce, grocery , wellness, general merchandise – they are everywhere (see a list of examples below)!

Another way the Co-op embodies the principals of Fair Trade is by buying directly from our local producers, thus the Co-op ensures a fair and equitable price and a reliable market for these producers. It is also a way for you as a consumer to have a positive effect on the local economy by keeping hard-earned money here in the community, creating growth and bettering lives.  Look for the local sticker and know that your purchase is making a difference!

So, when you’re doing your shopping at the Co-op, remember that you are supporting a community, right here and globally, and that your purchase matters.  You know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you’ve done something great? Yeah, go ahead and feel that, every time you shop with us!  Community, equitable human rights, warm fuzzy feelings? Now that is something to celebrate.

A few examples of Fair Trade Certified or local products you can find at the Co-op (if the season is right):

Produce – Equal Exchange Bananas, vine tomatoes, Yukon gold potatoes, select mushrooms

Grocery – Fashion Farms biscuits, maple syrup, Mom’s Best cereals, Alter Eco Quinoa, Lotus Foods Rice, Numi Tea, select Frontier spices/teas/vanilla extract

Dairy –Alemar Cheese Company and Nature Valley cheese, Cedar Summit Farms milk, Schroeder butter

Wellness – Alaffia products, Dr. Bronner’s products, Worker B lip cream

General merchandise – Overseas Connection African market baskets, Ande’s Gifts winter wear

Meats – Healthy Pork, Prairie Pride Farm (sausages and snack sticks), Beeler’s hams

Bulk – rolled oats, spelt flour, whole wheat bread flour, 8 grain hot cereal

For more information on Fair Trade, here are a few websites to check out:

http://www.fairforlife.net/

http://www.fairtraderesource.org/

http://www.beyondthepeel.com/

www.transfairusa.org