Drought in Guatemala

California is not the only place experiencing a drought. In Guatemala, nearly one million people in Guatemala are struggling to feed themselves, eating only two meals a day. Below, see Paolino surveying his drought-stricken corn crop in Rabinal. Mayan Hands, a weaving organization, reports that sales of their products through fair trade helps their artisan partners to diversify their income, especially important when jobs in the agricultural sector shrink.

Happy Women's Equality Day!

Happy Women's Equality Day from Silicon Valley Fair Trade!

"We don’t want charity, we want dignity." says Rosa Guamán,
inspiring leader of the indigenous women’s cooperative Jambi
Kiwa in Ecuador.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream returning

We have your Pumpkin Spice Latte, but now returning is Ben & Jerry's Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream and Fair Trade too. Yay!

Bullets into Hope

Decades of war have left Cambodia’s fields littered with brass from bullet and bomb casings. Heng Sopheanith, one of the artisans, chose to take these reminders of devastation and transform them into symbols of hope. “This work affects my life by creating employment, giving job satisfaction and a wage that can help me support my family, send my children to school for education and provide good food to help my family have better heath, as well as feeling a part of the community.”

Coffee Coals

When you think about it, every step of the coffee production process is an environmental nightmare. 17 billion pounds of coffee cherries, 9 billion non-recyclable single-brew coffee pods, and 146 billion disposable paper cups end up in landfills every year. When the average coffee shops are through with the coffee grounds, 22 pounds are tossed.
Rich Bruins and his group in Guatemala, took advantage of the pulp waste that is separated from the coffee cherry and packed it into energy-efficient briquettes to use for cooking. It dawned on him that the discarded coffee ground could be used for the same purpose.  Hence, Coffee Coals.

Fair Trade Gold

These Tanzanian gold miners are guaranteed that they are treaty fairly in terms of health and safety, no child labor and paid a fair price for the gold. See more...

Fair Trade Apparel in Palo Alto

prAna is one of the first major apparel company in North America to offer Fair Trade USA certified products and accessories. prAna is adding a new store soon in Palo Alto at Town & Country Village.

Fair Trade Instant Coffee

There are times when you just can’t make it to the coffee shop around the corner for an expensive, fancy cup of coffee. Mount Hagen Instant Coffee allows you to save money and make a great cup of coffee at you convenience by just adding hot water.PS: It's #Fairtrade certified! Available at New Seasons Market and Whole Foods.

Reasons to buy Fair Trade

A very comprehensive list of reasons to buy Fair Trade. Thank you Infographic!