Fair Trade is a way of doing business that ensures that farmers of commodity products, like coffee, tea, and sugar, get a fair price for their goods, as well as other community and social investments. Third-party non-profits are responsible for certifying products as “Fair Trade.” For more information, including the logos to watch out for, visit: TransFair.

Fair Trade Boston is a grassroots initiative aimed at alleviating global poverty and promoting environmental sustainability by widely increasing our use of Fair Trade products throughout Greater Boston. Fair Trade Boston’s ultimate goal is help the City of Boston become an official ‘Fair Trade City’ by joining the international ‘Fair Trade Towns’ movement.

Boston Faith and Justice Network is one of the major partners in Fair Trade Boston and is responsible for connecting churches into the campaign to make Boston a “Fair Trade Town”.  Eight Fair Trade Teams, based in local churches, have already helped over 12 businesses, organizations, and churches switch to Fair Trade in the quest to make Greater Boston a Fair Trade Town. Hope Church is of the BFJN Fair Trade Teams.

The Fair Trade Towns movement is an exciting initiative that brings together businesses, community, faith-based organizations, and educational institutions throughout the United States to grow the Fair Trade movement. By achieving special recognition for towns, cities, and communities that promote Fair Trade, the campaign deepens consumer awareness and involvement and expands the Fair Trade market to benefit millions of marginalized farmers and artisans and their families around the world.

In order to become a Fair Trade city, Fair Trade products must be widely used in local churches, schools, workplaces, and businesses (1 organization per 10,000 people), and the town or city council/governing body must pass a resolution supporting Fair Trade and committing to use Fair Trade products when applicable for town purchasing.

See the Fair Trade Boston site for more about the campaign.