2016-07-27
The fair trade movement aims to create an ethical marketplace of global goods. "Fair", as opposed to "unfair", trade refers to companies and organizations that abide by certain ethics involving the protection of workers' human rights and the enforcing of good labor standards. For example, the growers of fair trade coffee make $1.12 to 1.26 a pound; growers of non-fair trade coffee make only 80 cents a pound. Read more at the Fair Trade Federation's website.

Although fair trade accounts for a small fraction of goods exchanged in the world, the movement is growing and there is now a wide variety of fair trade goods available on the web. Check out this shopping guide or take a look at a few of our favorites:

Gear That Gives
In addition to supporting the artisans through fair trade and sustainable development, a portion of your purchase also funds your choice of charity: hunger, rainforest, breast cancer, child health, animal rescue or literacy.

A Greater Gift (formerly SERRV)
This organization works to alleviate poverty by selling homemade crafts and foods from artisans and farmers in 35 different countries. On their site you'll find fairly traded jewelry, holiday ornaments, and other household goods.

Worldstock Handcrafted at Overstock.com
Handcrafted clothing, jewelry, and ceramics.

Ten Thousand Villages
Popular chain of stores; you can shop on the website but you have to go to a store to buy.

eShop Africa
From the ordinary (napkin rings, candle holders) to the exotic (mudcloth wall hangings, wooden masks).

World of Good
Many lovely totes and pouches, journals, and scarves. A smaller selection is featured on Amazon.com.

Peace Coffee
This coffee is fair trade, organic, and grown in the shade (said to provide "critical bird habitat and soil nutrients").

Divine Chocolate
Cocoa farmers actually own shares in the company. You can't buy the chocolate from their website but they list stores for you.

Grounds for Change
Family-owned and operated coffee roasting business in the Pacific Northwest. Their beans are fair trade and organic.

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