Fair Trade Month Begins! Drink coffee, make video, win trip for two to Peru

By Joshua | October 2nd, 2007 | No Comments

TransFair USA—the U.S. certifying agency for Fair Trade–Certified products—is kicking off national Fair Trade Month with the “Connect with Fair Trade” video contest. The winner will visit a farming cooperative in Peru and a whole lot more.
What is Fair Trade? It is “an alternative trade model that benefits farmers and farming cooperatives in developing countries” by helping them achieve economic self-sufficiency. And it works. I’ve seen the effects while visiting coffee farms in Nicaragua and tea cooperatives in India.

Read my “Fair Trade 101 report” from Darjeeling two years ago. Click below for more on Fair Trade Month and the video contest details:

FROM TRANSFAIR USA:

About Fair Trade Month
“We know that consumers are willing to purchase products that promote social justice and empower farmers in the developing world, so it’s our job to get the word out to as many patrons as possible about the positive impact Fair Trade Certified products make around the world,” said Paul Rice, president and CEO of TransFair USA. The Fair Trade Month awareness-building campaign aims to increase recognition of the Fair Trade Certified label through a video contest, in-store promotions, Fair Trade farmer speaking tours, and a multi-city, Fair Trade Certified coffee giveaway in high-traffic commuter hubs.

About the “Connect with Fair Trade” Video Contest
The winner of the first Fair Trade video contest will win a trip for two to Peru to connect with Fair Trade farmers! Contestants are encouraged to submit a video on the theme of “Connect with Fair Trade.” Videos should be no more than 5 minutes in length, less than 100mb, and submitted in QuickTime or Windows Media. Fair Trade supporters without a video camera can still win great Fair Trade prizes through the Connect with Fair Trade sweepstakes. More information can be found on www.connectwithfairtrade.org, which also contains information on the positive impact that Fair Trade is making around the world, Fair Trade recipes, and how to support Fair Trade.

About TransFair USA
TransFair USA is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified™ products in the United States. TransFair USA audits and certifies transactions between U.S. companies offering Fair Trade Certified products and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages. TransFair USA certifies coffee, tea, herbs, vanilla, cocoa, chocolate, rice, sugar and bananas. Visit www.FairTradeCertified.org.