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Local Businesses Embrace ‘Fair Trade’ Line Of Products
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| Books & Beans owner Teresa Jacobson (left) was happy that Deb Veldhuizen (right) was organizing efforts to place Fair Trade items in local stores. Customers at Jacobson’s coffeehouse in downtown Yankton will be able to purchase a variety of coffee, tea, hot cocoa mix and chocolate marketed by the program, which promotes sustainable economic development in poor countries while emphasizing better labor practices and production techniques. Veldhuizen hopes to expand the item inventory in the months ahead. (Photo: Loretta Sorensen) |
By Loretta Sorensen
P&D Correspondent
Some Yankton residents are taking steps to reduce child labor and unfair labor practices by making Fair Trade products available for purchase in local stores. Proceeds from product sales help residents of developing countries around the globe become economically and socially stable.
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks great equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, disadvantaged producers and workers, especially in the south.
Fair Trade organizations, backed by consumers, are actively engaged in supporting producers in awareness raising and campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade. It has existed since the 1950s and started as a partnership between non-profit importers, retailers in the North and small-scale producers in developing countries. It seeks to empower producers and workers and help them establish economic self-sufficiency.
Deb Veldhuizen, who said she has long been interested in healthy foods and social justice, combined her interests and took them one step further after a visit to Holland, Mich. While her pastor husband attended a seminar there, she learned more about Fair Trade.
“I was browsing through The Bridge, a store there that carries handcrafted goods and Fair Trade items from all over the world,” Veldhuizen said. “I started learning more about Fair Trade and how they help people market their products. When I returned home and started sharing what I learned, I found a number of other people in Yankton who share my passion and interest.”
Veldhuizen appreciates the efforts of the Fair Trade organization because she believes it is a practical way to help other people in a number of ways. She has been spearheading efforts to work with other Yankton residents to organize placement of Fair Trade products in local stores. In recent weeks, she has arranged with Books & Beans coffeehouse at 104 W Third St. to carry some Fair Trade items.
“We’ve placed Fair Trade coffee, both ground and whole beans, in the store,” Veldhuizen said. “You can also purchase hot cocoa mix, tea and chocolate. The interesting thing about Fair Trade items is that they sometimes cost more than commercial products, but the quality is also better.”
Teresa Jacobson, owner of Books & Beans, said she agreed to stock the items because she already purchases Fair Trade coffee and tea and wanted to make it available to the community.
“I’ve seen the popularity of Fair Trade items grow across the country and I thought it was important for people in Yankton to have the opportunity to purchase them,” Jacobson said.
Fair Trade prohibits the use of child labor, Veldhuizen said, and “also enables farmers to earn a better price for their product so they can meet their family’s basic needs. Without Fair Trade, a lot of families wouldn’t be able to afford health care, education and proper nutrition.”
Fair Trade also provides farmers with a premium they can use in their community to build schools, health clinics and improve their farms. Farmers taking part in Fair Trade’s program are required to utilize sustainable farming practices in order to protect the environment.
“It gives farmers a chance to end the cycle of poverty and child exploitation,” Veldhuizen said. “When you see the Fair Trade label, you know that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met to produce that product.”
A number of churches, including Yankton’s Trinity Lutheran Church, stock Fair Trade products and offer them to the public at various times throughout the year. The products have also been available at several Freeman stores for quite a few years.
“Our group has established an account and we’re able to order quite a few different Fair Trade products,” Veldhuizen said. “We expect to have more items for sale as we get the word out to people that they’re available. We have invited area churches to partner with us and make a one-time monetary donation so we can order a bigger variety of items. Once we’re established, the items will pay for themselves.”
Volunteers will work with Veldhuizen to stock and re-order items. They hope to make them as accessible as possible to the public.
“As we obtain the funds, we’ll keep expanding the inventory,” Veldhuizen said. “You can go beyond food items and stock jewelry and other types of items that artisans create. Yankton’s Starbucks offers a Fair Trade coffee, Café Estima, so even asking for that when you get a Starbucks beverage will help developing countries.”
Veldhuizen hopes more stores will offer to stock Fair Trade items and that the public will make an effort to purchase and use them in order to support farmers who produce the products.
“Ephesians 4:28 says we should do something useful with our hands so we can share with others in need,” Veldhuizen said. “That’s what this is all about. We have an opportunity to touch the lives of people around the world, just through the purchase of the items they produce. People talk about being a consumer with a good conscience, but this is a way to actually do something. ... It shows the world that we not only value the product but also the people who produce it.”
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks great equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, disadvantaged producers and workers, especially in the south.
Fair Trade organizations, backed by consumers, are actively engaged in supporting producers in awareness raising and campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade. It has existed since the 1950s and started as a partnership between non-profit importers, retailers in the North and small-scale producers in developing countries. It seeks to empower producers and workers and help them establish economic self-sufficiency.
Deb Veldhuizen, who said she has long been interested in healthy foods and social justice, combined her interests and took them one step further after a visit to Holland, Mich. While her pastor husband attended a seminar there, she learned more about Fair Trade.
“I was browsing through The Bridge, a store there that carries handcrafted goods and Fair Trade items from all over the world,” Veldhuizen said. “I started learning more about Fair Trade and how they help people market their products. When I returned home and started sharing what I learned, I found a number of other people in Yankton who share my passion and interest.”
Veldhuizen appreciates the efforts of the Fair Trade organization because she believes it is a practical way to help other people in a number of ways. She has been spearheading efforts to work with other Yankton residents to organize placement of Fair Trade products in local stores. In recent weeks, she has arranged with Books & Beans coffeehouse at 104 W Third St. to carry some Fair Trade items.
“We’ve placed Fair Trade coffee, both ground and whole beans, in the store,” Veldhuizen said. “You can also purchase hot cocoa mix, tea and chocolate. The interesting thing about Fair Trade items is that they sometimes cost more than commercial products, but the quality is also better.”
Teresa Jacobson, owner of Books & Beans, said she agreed to stock the items because she already purchases Fair Trade coffee and tea and wanted to make it available to the community.
“I’ve seen the popularity of Fair Trade items grow across the country and I thought it was important for people in Yankton to have the opportunity to purchase them,” Jacobson said.
Fair Trade prohibits the use of child labor, Veldhuizen said, and “also enables farmers to earn a better price for their product so they can meet their family’s basic needs. Without Fair Trade, a lot of families wouldn’t be able to afford health care, education and proper nutrition.”
Fair Trade also provides farmers with a premium they can use in their community to build schools, health clinics and improve their farms. Farmers taking part in Fair Trade’s program are required to utilize sustainable farming practices in order to protect the environment.
“It gives farmers a chance to end the cycle of poverty and child exploitation,” Veldhuizen said. “When you see the Fair Trade label, you know that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met to produce that product.”
A number of churches, including Yankton’s Trinity Lutheran Church, stock Fair Trade products and offer them to the public at various times throughout the year. The products have also been available at several Freeman stores for quite a few years.
“Our group has established an account and we’re able to order quite a few different Fair Trade products,” Veldhuizen said. “We expect to have more items for sale as we get the word out to people that they’re available. We have invited area churches to partner with us and make a one-time monetary donation so we can order a bigger variety of items. Once we’re established, the items will pay for themselves.”
Volunteers will work with Veldhuizen to stock and re-order items. They hope to make them as accessible as possible to the public.
“As we obtain the funds, we’ll keep expanding the inventory,” Veldhuizen said. “You can go beyond food items and stock jewelry and other types of items that artisans create. Yankton’s Starbucks offers a Fair Trade coffee, Café Estima, so even asking for that when you get a Starbucks beverage will help developing countries.”
Veldhuizen hopes more stores will offer to stock Fair Trade items and that the public will make an effort to purchase and use them in order to support farmers who produce the products.
“Ephesians 4:28 says we should do something useful with our hands so we can share with others in need,” Veldhuizen said. “That’s what this is all about. We have an opportunity to touch the lives of people around the world, just through the purchase of the items they produce. People talk about being a consumer with a good conscience, but this is a way to actually do something. ... It shows the world that we not only value the product but also the people who produce it.”
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RightOfMiddle wrote on Dec 6, 2008 12:41 PM: