Fair Trade in your Social Life

Many people’s social life usually involves dating and hanging out with friends. There is a way to incorporate fair trade into both of these activities. You may choose to purchase fair trade wine and fair trade flowers. These are both socially and environmentally ethical alternatives, which end up being healthy for the producers, the planet, and your friends and lovers.

Fair Trade Wine

Fair Trade wine is produced in places like Chile, Argentina and South Africa. It creates an opportunity for people to work in a respectable business and participate in global trade. Fair Trade wine producers earn a living wage and have opportunities to grow personally and professionally. Here are some great resources on Fair Trade wine:

Transfair USA Fair Trade Wine Program	This is a great overall view of the Fair Trade wine industry and its players.
Etica Fair Trade Wine	Etica works with producers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. The income generated by the producers is used to develop their communities, whether it be building new infrastructure or sending their children to school.
Stellar Organics	Stellar Organic Winery (privately owned), situated in Trawal, 275 km north of Cape Town on the road to Namibia, is the largest producer of fine organic wines in South Africa.

Fair Trade Flowers

Fair Trade flowers have a huge impact on the growers’ health. By supporting ethical flower growers, you are saving the lives of thousands of workers in countries like Colombia, Kenya and Ecuador, among others. This is because they are not exposed to toxic chemicals, making the process healthy for the workers, the planet, and ultimately the end customers. Moreover, by purchasing fair trade certified flowers, you are helping the growers (who are mostly women) support their families and become independent decision makers in their communities. The following are links to great supporters of Fair Trade flowers:

TransFair USA Flower Program	Great resource to learn where fair trade flowers come from and where to buy them.
Better Earth Flowers	Fair Trade Flowers from Colombia.
One World Flowers	Different selections of Fair Trade Certified flowers.
FTD	They are beginning to offer a selection of "Planet Friendly" gifts, and amongst them we can find some Fair Trade Certified flowers.
1-800-Flowers.com	This is one of the only fair trade certified flowers they offer, but at least it's an option.

Fair Trade at your Wedding

The Fair Trade Federation has a long list of resources to make your wedding a fair trade wedding. Still, we would like to highlight some of the sections that stood out the most.

Fair Trade gift registries:

Global Exchange Gift Registry: We already mentioned the Global Exchange online store for their fine selection of chocolate, tea and other edibles. You can also visit them for the wide selection of functional, fair trade products, and the option to have a wedding gift registry there.

Ten Thousand Villages Gift Registry: Ten Thousand Villages is the biggest provider of Fair Trade crafts in North America. In Canada, they are also big on Fair Trade produce. You are sure to find many beautiful objects from around the world at their store.

Rings:

Costello International: this is a Fair Trade Federation member specializing in fine jewelry.

Shiana: Shiana provides rare and beautiful fine jewelry.

For more information, visit the fair trade wedding of the Fair Trade Federation.

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