EVERYTHING IS BETTER WHEN IT’S FAIR
Te Fair Trade Movement Is Abuzz in Chicagoland
by Megy Karydes T 18
he holiday season is just begin- ning, but some artisans around the world are already working
on designs for next year’s season. Many of them are producing for fair trade companies in the U.S., creating every- thing from jewelry and apparel to gifts and home accessories. “Fair trade is a worldwide movement aimed toward reducing poverty by providing farmers and artisans in developing countries a fair wage for their work,” says Nancy Jones, executive director of Chicago
Chicago North & North Shore
Fair Trade. Originating with handicrafts as early as the 1940s and ’50s, fair trade products began to include agricul- tural commodities such as coffee and tea by the 1980s and now include dried fruits, cocoa, sugar, rice, spices, nuts and most recently, wine. As a movement, fair trade aims
not only to pay fair wages, but also to contribute to sustainable development by providing market access to other- wise marginalized producers, giving them better trading conditions and connecting them with customers. Fair
trade practices may include supplying producers in lesser developed countries with financial and technical assistance, while respecting their cultural identity. Because women comprise the majority of those who live in poverty, it is no surprise that they are a strong force in the fair trade movement. It yields public accountability and seeks to educate consumers about making re- sponsible choices a part of their regular shopping habits. Beyond those primary purposes, fair trade standards seek to ensure environmental sustainability.
LOCAL INITIATIVES
WITH GLOBAL GOALS The fair trade movement is abuzz in Chicagoland, with the help of nonprofit organizations like Chicago Fair Trade,
WANT TO SEE MORE? Visit these retailers who carry fair trade products:
n Ten Thousand Villages, Evanston;
Evanston.TenThousandVillages.com
n Earth & Spirit, Long Grove;
EarthAndSpiritLongGrove.com
n The Mustard Seed, Lake Forest;
MustardSeedFairTrade.com
n Global Handmade Hope, Park Ridge;
GlobalHandmadeHope.com
www.NAChicagoNorth.com
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