October really is Bluff Country Co-op’s month. In addition to being Co-op Month, October is also Fair Trade Month. You might be wondering why there is a month devoted to Fair Trade or even what Fair Trade means.
According to Fair Trade USA, products that are certified as Fair Trade have met “rigorous social, environmental and economic standards to promote safe, healthy working conditions; protect the environment; enable transparency; and empower communities to build strong thriving businesses.”
When you purchased Endangered Species chocolates last year, for example, you contributed to the $419,214 they donated to their causes. This included the purchase and protection of 961 acres of Rainforest. When you purchase Alaffia products (hand-woven baskets and hand-crafted shea butter are two of the more popular), you help fund schools, maternal care, and reforestation projects in Tongo, West Africa. These are accomplishments worth celebrating!
Your day-to-day purchases of Fair Trade products can improve others’ day-to-day lives, and Bluff Country Co-op is committed to helping make that happen. With our upcoming expansion, more shelf space will be available for Fair Trade products.