MANKATO FAIR TRADE BLOG | Mankato Area Fair Trade Town Association

Remembering Emily Kracht, Loyola, and Mankato Fair Trade

by Paul Renshaw Founding Chair, Mankato Fair Trade . 35 years ago, if you were a coffee farmer anywhere in the Americas, East Africa or South-East Asia, you would have been very worried by the world price of the commodity that your livelihood depended on. You would probably not have been able to make ends meet. This “coffee crisis” of the late 1980s spurred the growth of the international “Fair Trade” or “Fairtrade” movement. Among other benefits, participating farmers and other small producers in the Global South, were enabled, through innovative product labeling, to receive fairer prices and thus reward Read More

Paulette Bertrand2023-03-18T17:47:54+00:00March 18, 2023|Uncategorized|

Women & Fair Trade

Women are incredibly important in the global agriculture system! Supporting gender equality and the development of women leaders in farmer organizations is a key piece of Fairtrade’s work to make global trade fair for everyone involved. What does this look like? Here are a few examples: - Fairtrade Standards that prohibit discrimination based on gender or marital status, prohibit sexual harassment or abuse, and require farmer organizations to develop a gender equality policy - Women’s Leadership Schools that strengthen the business skills of women farmers

Paulette Bertrand2023-03-11T23:58:39+00:00March 11, 2023|Clothing, Fair Trade, MAFTTI, Mankato, Sustainable Development|

New Ulm’s Own Reopening

New Ulm’s Own is reopening in their new location on March 3, 2023. They are now in the front portion of 212 N. Minnesota Street in the space previously held by Nadelkunst knitting shop. The amazing new space has much more room for merchandise. They will have a monthly display that tells the story of a certain product or artisan organization. The store is bright, spacious and very accessible. They will also be open one additional day, Thursday, 10:00 to 4:00, as well as the usual Friday and Saturday hours, 10:00 to 4:00.

Paulette Bertrand2023-03-11T23:46:05+00:00March 11, 2023|Fair Trade|

Sustainability is Top Trend for 2023

Fair Trade America WASHINGTON – Dec. 13, 2022 – Fairtrade America – the world’s most recognized label for social justice and sustainability – today shared five key trends the organization expects will drive consumer choices and brand action in 2023. Despite inflation and rising prices on products we use everyday, from gas to groceries, research shows that many consumers are still making thoughtful choices while shopping, choosing products that align with their values. As these consumers become increasingly interested in and informed about supply chains, sourcing and product sustainability, brands will need to invest in practices that drive loyalty among Read More

Paulette Bertrand2022-12-31T21:49:48+00:00December 31, 2022|Fair Trade, MAFTTI, Mankato, Sustainable Development|

E.L.F. BEAUTY is joining #FairTradeCertified

People made your makeup. E.l.f. Beauty can now certify that they are well treated E.l.f. Beauty is the first cosmetics brand to partner with Fair Trade USA to certify its manufacturing facilities. Now, other brands in the $550 billion beauty sector can follow. You can buy Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and bananas. But what about your lipstick and eyeliner? Since 1998, Fair Trade USA has certified products that meet its standards for the working conditions in its supply chain. Initially, it worked largely with farmers, but it has since expanded to laborers in other sectors, including apparel. On September Read More

Paulette Bertrand2022-12-31T21:16:40+00:00October 25, 2022|Fair Trade, MAFTTI, Mankato, Sustainable Development|

WFTO Joins Green Economy Coalition

WFTO has been formally accepted as a member of the Green Economy Coalition, a broad network of allies working for structural economic reform. Together with trade unions, progressive businesses, NGOs, UN agencies and citizen’s groups, WFTO is moved by the belief that green and fair economies are possible, necessary, and achievable. Click here to read more about the Green Economy Coalition and its projects.

Paulette Bertrand2022-10-19T18:18:05+00:00October 19, 2022|Sustainable Development|

Shop Fair Trade Certified

We’re excited to announce the launch of the new fairtradecertified.org website! The new website streamlines the information you need, like figuring out who offers Fair Trade Certified products and where to buy them. Tell you friends to join our community, and take a look at our recent blog articles! Shop fair Trade here: https://www.fairtradecertified.org/our-community/shop-fair-trade/

Paulette Bertrand2022-10-16T16:56:19+00:00October 1, 2022|Fair Trade, MAFTTI, Mankato, Sustainable Development|

Fair Talks from Los Angeles Fair Trade

Fair Trade Podcasts For the season two premier of Fair Trade LA's FAIR Talks podcast, Elisha Chan (Executive Director of Fair Trade LA) chats with Joe Altepeter and Alexandria Pineda from the Downtown Women’s Center, the only organization in Los Angeles exclusively serving and empowering women experiencing homelessness. Learn more about this incredible organization from its audacious inception to their vision to see every woman housed and on a path to personal stability. The conversation highlights the ways COVID, race, class, and gender disproportionately affect BIPOC women’s opportunities for safe housing, and how housing is a prescription for health. Read More

Paulette Bertrand2022-10-01T00:17:53+00:00October 1, 2022|Fair Trade, Fair Trade Towns, Uncategorized|

October is Fair Trade Month!

Happy Fair Trade Month! We invite you to join us for our second annual Fair Trade Month Virtual Silent Auction. The auction is now open and features 75+ beautiful, unique, and fun items and experiences all from dedicated fair trade enterprises. Explore, register, and bid! The auction is raising funds to support the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) community and the global movement of trade that values the health of the planet, and the labor, dignity, and equality of all people.

Paulette Bertrand2022-10-01T00:10:10+00:00October 1, 2022|Fair Trade|

FAIRTRADE AMERICA LAUNCHES “IT’S ONLY FAIR” CAMPAIGN

Launched on World Chocolate Day, the new campaign aims to creatively ignite conversation about how little cocoa farmers earn for their crops while they also face burdensome inflation, impacts of COVID-19 and supply chain challenges WASHINGTON, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Timed with July 7 World Chocolate Day, Fairtrade America, the world's most recognized label for social justice and sustainability, has launched a national campaign to generate broader awareness of the unjust price that farmers receive to produce the goods that we rely on everyday, including cocoa. The "It's Only Fair," campaign features three videos connecting shoppers in the U.S. Read More

Paulette Bertrand2022-07-09T21:44:19+00:00July 9, 2022|Fair Trade|