The following post was written by Dana Geffner, Executive Director of the Fair World Project. The post was sent to us from Nicaragua where she is visiting Fair Trade co-operatives.
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Small Farmers Big ChangeDecember 12, 2014 -
Small Farmers Big ChangeDecember 5, 2014
In today’s third and final piece on the Non-GMO Labeling Project, Sales Representative Gabriella della Croce offers us some thoughtful reflections on whether this particular labeling initiative is “better than nothing” for consumers who do not want to be consuming GMO products. We leave you with this question to ponder: Is something better than nothing, or does this initiative, with its good intentions, actually undermine other efforts which go so much further to keep consumers informed, educated, and healthy? As always, we appreciate your feedback and your views.
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Small Farmers Big ChangeDecember 3, 2014
On Monday, we heard from Jenica Rosen who raises important questions about the Non GMO Project. Jenica asks us to look into the companies that are supporting this initiative and consider their motives for doing so. Encouraging us to “follow the money,” she urges shoppers to dig deeper into any certification or labeling system and then make their own decisions about the products and the companies they support with their consumer dollars. Today, we hear from another Equal Exchange Sales Representative, Ellen Mickle, also based in our Portland, Oregon office.
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Small Farmers Big ChangeDecember 1, 2014
The following press release comes from the Fair World Project.
News came out last week that Bob Stiller, founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (now Keurig Green Mountain) and still recognized as Chairman Emeritus, made a $10 million dollar grant to Fair Trade USA, a fair trade labeling organization on whose board Stiller sits. This is a challenge grant requiring $10 million additional dollars to be raised, bringing the total investment in Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) to $20 million. -
Small Farmers Big ChangeDecember 1, 2014
If you shop at your local food co-op, Whole Foods, or a number of other natural food grocery stores you have probably seen this label. One of the newest seals in the marketplace, this one attempts to assure shoppers that the product does not contain GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Unlike the mandatory GMO labeling laws which a number of states have been trying to pass at the polls, this initiative is seemingly noncontroversial. Who can find fault with the pretty butterfly hanging out in nature’s green pastures?
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Sara FioreNovember 22, 2014Categories:Need some help picking out gifts for friends, family or coworkers? We’ve got you covered! This year, give them something delicious and unique that supports small farmer co-ops worldwide. Here’s a list of some of our favorite Fair Trade things.
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Beth Ann CaspersenNovember 18, 2014Categories:In 2004, we launched a training program called Cooperation in Quality as a means to empower coffee cuppers within the cooperative supply chain with the knowledge necessary to produce specialty coffee. That first year we invited six cuppers from Nicaragua to Equal Exchange for a week of roasting and cupping coffee as a way to share information about how specialty coffees are selected and graded. -
Carly KadlecNovember 18, 2014Categories: -
Ruthie OlandNovember 17, 2014 -
Sara FioreNovember 13, 2014