Pursuing profit over people and the planet has so many devastating consequences, a group of people rose up and said “Enough.” Hal Taussig, Media resident, is a long time supporter of Fair Trade. His own travels helped him see the importance of the livelihoods of the producers of the goods we consume. In 2006, Media met the criteria established by the British Fairtrade Foundation to become a Fair Trade town. The cause is to get poor farmers and artisans paid fairly “Fair Trade.” It’s easy to confuse Fair Trade with Free Trade. After all, both seek access to world markets. But Fair Trade is not about trade barriers. Its aim is economic justice (fair pay), a healthy planet and a livable standard of living, including education, health care, equal opportunity for women, and the end of child labor.
Many Fair Trade farmers practice premium shade-growing methods, painstakingly drying the ripe red cherries in the sun. This skilled, labor-intensive process requires an enduring commitment to the land, and to superior coffee. Year after year in global competitions, many of the Top 10 Coffees are Fair Trade certified. Over 50% of all Fair Trade coffee is also certified organic. The alternative to this sustainable, eco-friendly approach? Industrial coffee farming, which has historically exploited native people and their lands, polluting rivers, eroding the soil and devastating wildlife, leading to the massive deforestation of once lush rainforests. Your support of Fair Trade coffee connects you, and Media - America’s First Fair Trade Town - in a powerful, positive way with farm communities worldwide. With one conscientious purchase, you can uplift lives, defend endangered environments, preserve traditional farms and honor the spirit of Everybody’s Hometown. Together, we are making a lasting difference for others. Taste how sweet life is when small farmers receive a living wage. Learn more and get involved at MediaFairTrade.org.
Fair Trade is a highly-effective initiative which aims to build long-term partnerships between farmers and buyers.
- Media lists 18 Fair Trade shops
- Seek out Fair Trade Certified and fairly traded products everywhere you go.
- Ask for Fair Trade and fairly traded items at your favorite stores, and make sure that they know you’d like to see more of these goods on their shelves.
- Supporting local producers and locally owned businesses of all kinds, by doing so, you can live your consumer global awareness, keeping local. That’s why we always say: Buy Fair ~ Buy Local!