Fair Trade Burlington

Current News & Events

March 9, 2010

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Supports Fair Trade Towns

Green Mountain Coffee Roaster shows its support for fair trade! Green Mountain Coffee is giving a $50,000 grant and the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation is giving a $925,000 three year commitment to TransFair USA's Fair Trade Towns movement. Read the exciting news on the Green Mountain Coffee Blog.

The Burlington Fair Trade Town Committee is excited to see the Fair Trade Towns campaign strengthen and grow throughout the nation. Stay tuned for updates.

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Yoga for Social Change

Benefit for El Salvador Coffee Farmers

Saturday, March 20

2:00pm - 4:30pm

Evolution Yoga Studio 20 Kilburn St. Burlington, VT 

Please join us in a Yoga Class Benefit, and coffee cupping, sponsored by Evolution Yoga and Vermont Artisan Coffees. Proceeds will go to the UVM El Salvador Coffee Communities Fund, which supports coffee farming families and environmental conservation projects in Tacuba, El Salvador
Suggested minimum donation: $20 non-students; $15 students.
 

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Afternoon Tea & Conversation

With Dolma Designs and the Peace & Justice Store

Saturday, March 6

2:00pm - 4:00pm

The Peace & Justice Store 60 Lake St. Burlington, VT 

In honor of Women's History Month, Dolma Designs will present stories and pictures from the women's artisan cooperatives we work with in India. Join us for an afternoon of tea, goodies and an educational discussion about fair trade, women's empowerment and economic justice. 

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Our Story 

Burlington became the 12th Fair Trade Town in August 2009. The initiative was spearheaded by Sandy Wynne of Wynne Associates, Courtney Lang of City Market, Melinda Haselton of Dolma Designs, and a 15 member steering committee. Together they followed the five steps as set forth by Fair Trade Towns USA to make Burlington a Fair Trade Town.

Fair Trade Town Criteria  1) Form a steering committee representing local businesses, organizations, houses of worship and individuals 2) Create a media event to promote local retailers and to educate the community about fair trade 3) Document that there are a minimum of eight stores that offer Fair Trade products 4) Document that there are a range of Fair Trade products available to the community 5) The governing body passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade

Burlington Fair Trade Retailers

Burlington is fortunate to have such great retailers involved with Fair Trade. Use the interactive map below to find a Fair Trade retailer near you. Send submissions for additional stores to Melinda Haselton.

ViewFair Trade Burlington in a larger map

Local Wholesale and On-Line Fair Trade Businesses

Creative Women - www.creativewomen.net

Dolma Designs - www.dolmadesigns.org

Hope For Women - www.hopeforwomen.com

What Products Are Available

The following Fair Trade products are available in Burlington:

Agricultural: coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, coconut, herbs, fruit, sugar, rice, vanilla, flowers, honey

Crafts: cards, jewelry, clothing, accessories, candles, incense, tableware, toys, games, soap

What You Can Do

• Support your local retailers who carry Fair Trade and thank them for giving you the choice
• Ask our favorite store if they can carry Fair Trade products
• Choose Fair Trade whenever possible
• Educate yourself on Fair Trade (resources below) 
• Educate others on Fair Trade
• Volunteer and help the Fair Trade Burlington, contact Sandy Wynne
  

Defining Fair Trade

What it is...

• A trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade
  
• A voluntary choice for consumers and retailers
• One tool in the fight to helpl lift people out of poverty
• A way to demonstrate support for labor rights and environmental respect

What it is not...

• A perfect model - it is in its infancy
• adapting and evolving in this fast paced globalized world
• A requirement for consumers to do anything
• The only solution in the fight to end global poverty

How it works...

• Retailers have complete control over the retail price on the shelf
• Producers are guaranteed a minimum floor price for their goods - only applied if market price falls below floor price
• Prducers get additional bonus if product is certified organic
• Producer communities get a social premium that MUST be invested in the community

What producers must do...

• Producers must join cooperatives that are democratically organized and give women equal say
• Respect labor rights - no child labor
• Respect the environmental and use green practices
• Demonstrate democratic values

What importers must do...

• Sign long term contracts with producers
• Extend credit to producers (up to 60% pf contract value) if requested
• Follow Fair Trade Principles throughout their part of the supply chain
• Pay TransFair USA a fee (based on quantity imported) for the use of Fair Trade logo

Fair Trade Town: Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anyone money?

            When a community becomes a Fair Trade Town, there is no cost associated with that status for the community or its businesses. TransFair USA, Fair Trade Resource Network, Global Exchange and other groups offer FREE marketing and educational material for anyone. Many businesses proudly market their products and companies as being involved with Fair Trade as part of their regular marketing strategy and brand positioning.

What are the benefits?

The Fair Trade Town Campaign has 2 basic goals: (1) educating consumers and (2) promoting products and businesses. With these goals in mind, the committee will continue developing activities for Fair Trade events already established such as International World Fair Trade Day (2^nd Saturday in May) and U.S. Fair Trade Month (October).  This publicity gives the City of Burlington and its local business community worldwide exposure as a leader and model for Fair Trade values. Communities, companies and organizations can use this exposure as a competitive advantage.

Our motto is Buy Fair Buy Local. As a Fair Trade Town, we encourage consumers to purchase both local and Fair Trade products. We want consumers to have choices so that everyone wins – the producers, the consumers, and the environment!

Resources

Transfair USA - a labeling organization that audits international trade to ensure fair trade practices

The Fair Trade Federation - a trade association designed to promote fair trade businesses in the US

The Fair Trade Resource Network - an organization dedicated to educating and promoting fair trade

Sandy Wynne's Thesis - the Challenges of Marketing Fair Trade

Past Events

Fair Trade Month, October 2009: Vermont's First Forum on Fair Trade Business

On October 17, 2009, scholars, retailers, organizations and the Burlington community joined together to celebrate Fair Trade Month.

The panel included...

Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, owner of Healthy Living, Mark Pendergrast, author of Uncommon Grounds, Melinda Haselton, owner of Dolma Designs, Ernesto Mendez, professor at the UVM, Paul Ralston, owner of VT Coffee Company, and Rick Peyser, Director of Social Advocacy and Coffee Community Outreach at GMCR. In addition, courtesy of GMCRs, we had 3 coffee farmers from Guatemala, Fredy Beltran Soto, Domingo Caba Ramirez, and Arcadio Daniel Galindo. The panel was moderated by Michael Moser, Professor at UVM.

View pictures on our Facebook fan page! 

World Fair Trade Day 2009

On May 9, 2009, the Burlington Fair Trade Town Committee hosted an event to celebrate World Fair Trade Day. The festivities included Fair Trade vendors, an African drum and dance performance, guest speakers Mayor Bob Kiss and Senator Bernie Sanders and guests took part in the largest, world-wide Fair Trade coffee break.