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January 21, 2011 ·

How does food empower people around the world?

Healthy Eating

Do you ever wonder about the farmer, when you’re drinking that cup of coffee or eating that fresh piece of fruit?  Personally, I hadn’t really thought about it too much in the past.  I know when I go to the local farmers’ market to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, I’m always happy to talk to the farmer I’m buying from.  But I’ve never really thought too much about non-local foods.

Recently however I became interested when researching more on organic foods.  I kept noticing a common theme regarding Fair Trade attached to many books and articles discussing organic foods.  Fair Trade particularly becomes important when you start talking about items such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, chocolate, non-local fresh fruits and wine….most of which are imported.  Even if you purchase a US based company’s chocolate bar, chances are that chocolate was made from cacao beans ground into a powder and shipped to the US from a foreign country.

So what is Fair Trade?  Fair Trade ensures that farmers receive a guaranteed fair price and good labor conditions, including safe working conditions and fair living wages.  The idea of a fair price and safe working conditions may seem common practice in the United States however many of the items mentioned above are imported from developing countries.  Most of us probably remember the scandal years ago, of Kathy Lee Gifford finding out that children were being used to sew her clothing line.  Fair Trade ensures that the companies providing any of the products listed above were not provided by forced child labor.

According to Fair Trade USA (http://www.transfairusa.org/), Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Fair Trade principles include:

  • Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum price and an additional premium for certified organic products.
  • Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
  • Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase directly from Fair Trade farmers when possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
  • Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
  • Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

If you’re anything like me then you’re thinking ok I agree with the principles of fair trade but how do I know if I’m purchasing Fair Trade items?  Fair Trade certification is a product certification process designed to allow people to identify products that meet the agreed environmental, labor and developmental standards.  Companies offering products that meet these standards receive a license to use one of the Fair Trade Certification Marks shown below:


So not only are we asking you to think about moving towards purchasing organic products we are also asking you to begin thinking about purchasing Fair Trade certified items – this will move us towards not only becoming more healthy but also more environmentally and economically responsible.

For more information you can view the Empowering People around the World presentation by TransFair USA.  The presentation and photos really help to tell the story.   Below are other links used in the research and development of this article:

  • TransFair USA
  • FairTrade Labeling Organizations International
  • FLO-Cert Certification for Development
  • TransFair Canada
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  1. Angela and the Chocolate Factory — Everyday Road to Healthy says:
    April 6, 2011 at 11:45 am

    […] chocolate.  Why organic and fair trade chocolate?  We have written past articles on organic and fair trade if you are interested in a more in-depth definition, but the short of it is, we wanted to introduce […]

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☘️Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ I’m we ☘️Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ 

I’m wearing my green today and preparing to make some corned beef and cabbage for dinner, but what is this day about? Here are some fun facts:
☘️
What are we celebrating? St Patrick’s Day commemorates the patron saint of Ireland, a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland. It is celebrated on March 17th, which is the day he is believed to have died.
☘️
Why shamrocks? St. Patrick used the 3-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.
☘️
Why green? Green has tradition in Ireland but an old folklore states that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns. If they can see you, they will pinch you! 
☘️
Why corned beef and cabbage?  Well, corned beef and cabbage is NOT the traditional dish in Ireland! When Irish immigrants came to America, they couldn’t afford the more traditional pork and bacon, so they used the cheapest cut of meat they could find, beef brisket. So corned beef (not in any way related to corn but is a reference to the brine) and the inexpensive vegetable, cabbage, became the celebration dish of choice. (Side note, if you are Catholic and St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent, like today, diocese will usually issue a dispensation from abstinence, which means meat can be eaten today.  So queue the corned beef!).
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Because I love this quote so much, I had to upgrad Because I love this quote so much, I had to upgrade it from a story to a post. Michelle Yeoh, 60 years old, is the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for best actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. 🏆What an inspiration! 💗 And not to be overshadowed, Jaime Lee Curtis won her first Oscar for a supporting role in the same movie. She is 64.

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Happy New Year! I’ve been a little absent becaus Happy New Year! I’ve been a little absent because I started the year off with a cold that left me tired and unmotivated. But I’m feeling better and starting my goal tracking a little late. I thought it would be helpful to combine all our goal trackers into one file for easy downloading and printing. The link to the all-in-one file can be found in our profile @everydayroadtohealthy ☝🏼. Swipe to see January printed at 75% and taped inside my planner. I’m hoping this works better for me this year!
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2022, you were filled with some great memories! I’m always sad to see another year go by. But I’m looking forward to making memories in 2023! 
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We hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with t We hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with the magic of the season! ❤️💚
I gave our protein balls recipe a little Christmas I gave our protein balls recipe a little Christmas upgrade. After refrigerating for a bit, dip in some melted chocolate and add some sprinkles! 😋 Search “protein balls” at everydayroadtohealthy.com for basic recipe, then add your own holiday upgrade!
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I’m sharing my tips and tricks for making the pe I’m sharing my tips and tricks for making the perfect jasmine rice 🍚 including what rice cooker I use, how much I make, and an age old method for measuring the water. Search “perfect jasmine rice” at www.everydayroadtohealthy.com for all the details!🍚
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If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this ho If you’re looking for a way to volunteer this holiday season - Wreaths Across America is this Saturday, Dec 17th. “In many homes there is an empty seat for one who is serving or one that made the ultimate sacrifice” this holiday season. Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org for more details on volunteering, donations, and locations near you.
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