Fair Trade: Dignity of the Human Person
What is Fair Trade?
The Fair Trade Resource Network provides a succinct explanation of what “fair” means: “The word ‘fair’ can mean a lot of different things to different people. In alternative trade organizations, ‘Fair Trade’ is about more than just paying a fair wage. It means that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect; that prices paid to producers reflect the work they do; that workers have the right to organize; that national health, safety, and wage laws are enforced; and that products are environmentally sustainable and conserve natural resources.” This reinforces the idea that Fair Trade is about justice.
Is this more than simply supporting a charity?
Better than the “haves” giving to the “have-nots” tone that much charity takes on, fair trade transactions offer positions of respect and appreciation to both the producer and the consumer. Most of the time when we make a purchase, we know nothing of the people who made the item. Fair trade purchases often offer us a bit of education about the artisan and a peek into the life of the worker who made the item. The economic act brings producer and consumer closer together.
St. Joseph Church is not holding a Fair Trade Shopping Boutique this year. Please consider shopping from Fair Trade vendors for your gifts this year. Here are some local Fair Trade vendors:
You can get general information at ohiofairtrade.com including stores that carry at least some fair trade items, like Heinen's, and companies that use fair trade ingredients, like Ben & Jerrys and Mitchell's ice cream.
Around us, Heinen's carries the most fair trade items, including Equal Exchange's full line of coffee, tea, candy, and baking ingredients. Even Drug Mart Carries Berardi's Fresh Roast Coffee, many flavors of which are fair trade. Giant Eagle, Marc's, Meijer's and even Walmart all carry some fair trade items. Look for one of the two symbols below. 
Fair-Trade Boutique & Studios: Our products are ethically produced, sustainable, and support artisans and farmers locally and across the globe! Visit their store at 215 High St. and 215 Third St. Fairport Harbor, OH 44077. Visit them online at www.thegreenshepherdess.com
Global Threads Boutique: Located in downtown Akron's Northside Marketplace, Global Threads Fair Trade is a Social Enterprise of Global Ties Akron. The retail gift shop features a distinctive, curated collection of handmade textiles, jewelry, and crafts for sale by local and international "artrepeneurs" from 4 continents around the world! Visit the store at 21 Furnace St. Akron, OH 44308.
Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative: Olive wood and Mother of Pearl Products made by Palestinian artisans. Visit www.hlhcs.org.
InterReligious Task Force (IRTF): Working to promote ecomonic justice, IRTF on Central American brings not only important information on fair trade issues, they bring great tasting fair trade coffe, chocolate, and new lines of products from Central America as well. Visit www.irtfcleveland.org.
The Hope Collection by INTO: The Hope Collection by INTO features the products of nine family workshops in Ecuador who we directly work with, as well as the products of colleagues who trade in over 18 countries. Visit their store at 55 East College Street, #1, Oberlin, OH 44074. Visit them online at www.into world.org.
Joyce's Boutique and Hair Salon: Visit this unique boutique online or in person in Chagrin Falls for an amazing variety of treasures and fair trade items. Visit the store at 9574 Bainbridge Rd., Chagrin Falls or online at joycesboutiquehairsalon.myshopify.com/collections/fair-trade.
One World Shop: Carrying extensive lines of fair trade products, One World Shop is open all year at their store at 19321 Detroit Rd., Rocky Rive. Visit them online at one-world-shop-cleveland.myshopify.com/
Revy Fair Trade, LLC: Visit Revy in the 5th Street Arcade downtown (the old Colonial Arcade) for upcycled inner tube wallets, belts and bags, as well as indigo scarves and other tie-dyed accessories. Reby also showcases for fabric or wodden toys and alpaca stuffed animals. Visit www.revydirect.com
Santa Rosa Stitches: A 100% volunteer run company providing resources for artisan women in Chiltiupan, El Salvador, to support their families and send their chidlren to school. All proceeds from the sale of their unique handmade items go directly to the talented women who created them. Visit www.santarosastitches.com
Shema Global: An Ohio-based company that manufactures and distributes Shema Premium Unrefined African Shea Butter and Shema Solutions Premium Moisturizing Plus products. Visit www.shemastore.com to learn more.
Wildly Fair: When you shop at Wildly Fair, you are choosing to support artisans around the world and your purchases truly do make a difference in their lives. Wildly Fair provides a place for customers to find beartifully make gofts crafted by artisans in Qcuador, Peru, Nepal and Nicaragua. Gofts are invirenmentally friendly. www.wildlyfair.com
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