Shop for a Cause at the 22nd annual Ten Thousand Villages “International Gift Faire”

This fair trade sale features unique handicrafts, gifts and household items from Ten Thousand Villages, the oldest & largest Fair Trade organization in the world. In 2008, the Faire, held in San Jose, reached a total combined profit of over $1 million for artisans in developing countries. It has become the largest two-day sale of Ten Thousand Villages in the U.S.

Ten Thousand Villages supports the work of 50-60,000 artisans across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. With the income they earn, these artisans are able to provide basic necessities like food, education, health care and housing for their families. This year’s sale in San Jose is especially critical to the artisans’ welfare, due to the decreased economy in the U.S. and Canada resulting in fewer orders for their handicrafts. Many of the items produced by the artisans are “eco-friendly”, being made from re-cycled materials such as newspapers, glass, aluminum cans, and other re-cycled metals.

Just a few of the many items you can expect to find at the “International Gift Faire”:
Children’s toys
Children’s clothing
Ethnic musical instruments
Linens
Handmade papers & Stationery
Holiday decorations
Pottery / Garden décor
House wares / Home décor
Chocolate, Coffee & Tea

Please help support fair trade around the world and “Shop for a Cause”!

Sale dates: Friday, October 15th, 9am to 8pm
Saturday, October 16th, 10am to 4pm

Location: Lincoln Glen Fellowship Hall
2700 Booksin Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125

For more information about the “International Gift Faire” or Ten Thousand Villages, visit the following websites:

www.tenthousandvillages.com
www.internationalgiftfaire.com

The Chol Chol Foundation and Emily Joubert proudly present A Fall Trunk Show

¡Hola Bay Area Fair Trade Community!

In honor of Fair Trade month, I am writing to invite you to celebrate Mapuche Fair Trade craft from Southern Chile!

Fall 2010 marks the debut of the Chol-Chol Foundation's products into boutiques across the nation (*new Bay Area stores include Global Exchange SF, Emily Joubert Home & Garden, Spirit Rock Meditation Center of Marin, Prima in Santa Cruz, Leeder of the Pack in Palo Alto, and Fringe of Sacramento).

We are excited to announce that the elegant boutique Emily Joubert Home & Garden of Woodside, California, will be hosting a celebratory Trunk Show Benefit for the Chol-Chol Foundation to launch our our new design and development project, Project Chol Chol!

Enough said, now let's celebrate!

October 9th, 5:00 - 9:00
@ Emily Joubert Home & Garden

We are pleased to invite you to experience Mapuche craft and culture, explore how design can empower commercial justice, and take home hand-made eco fair trade products from the Chol-Chol Foundation!

The evening's activities will include
• Music by Bay Area Chilean folk musician Maria Loreto Ramirez
• A silent auction featuring hand-made, naturally dyed Mapuche art
• Hors d'œuvres and wine from Chile and California
• The exclusive opportunity to pre-order Project Chol Chol's new line of contemporary accessories before they're open to the public in 2011!
All funds raised through donations and sales from this trunk show will help enable the launch of PROJECT CHOL CHOL, our new "Mapuche modern" line of products, the CHOL CHOL FOUNDATION, and our amazing collective of women artisans!
Event website projectcholchol.com
R.S.V.P to hola@cholchol.org
Facebook invite

It would be an honor to have you at this event, and please spread to word to your friends and neighbors!

With love and excitement,

Jasmine Aarons
Design and Development
Fundación Chol Chol
artesania@cholchol.org
http://cholchol.org
indigenousinnovation.com

"Every Party Matters" Fair Trade Month Kick Off Party at Temple Club this Wednesday

October is Fair Trade Month! Kick it off with Fair Trade USA!

Taste, Experience & Celebrate Fair Trade this Wednesday, September 29th at Temple San Francisco

Drink: Cocktails with the new FAIR. Vodka, the first-ever Fair Trade spirit, created from Fair Trade Certified quinoa.

Taste: Sweet and savory appetizers made with Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients.

Celebrate: With fellow Fair Trade fans at the popular Temple San Francisco, one of the Greenest Bars in the United States.

Dance: DJ Corinne Regan and DJ Chris Orr of San Francisco.

Admission: $10 with RSVP/$15 without RSVP

Dress Code: Fair & chic cocktail attire. No sneakers or t-shirts (unless they are Fair Trade Certified).

RSVP online at Event Brite or help spread the word on Faceboook.

Can't make it to the event, but you'd like to help? Every donation matters.



Want to support the expansion of Fair Trade in your community? Every voice matters.



We are also looking for a few last minute volunteers to staff the event. If you are interested please contact Katie Barrow, kbarrow@fairtradeusa.org for more information and FREE ADMISSION.

October is the seventh annual Fair Trade Month. Themed “Every Purchase Matters,” Fair Trade Month unites Fair Trade USA’s diverse corporate, nonprofit and individual stakeholders in more than 100 events, promotions and fund-raising activities across the United States to generate awareness of Fair Trade’s comprehensive approach to social, economic and environmental empowerment and sustainability among farming communities in the developing world.

Powered by

Celebrate a Fair Trade Berkeley with Mayor Tom Bates

Mayor Tom Bates poses with the Fair Trade Berkeley Steering Committee.

On July 13, 2010, Berkeley became the 19th Fair Trade Town in the United States when the City Council passed a Fair Trade resolution, voicing the City’s commitment to Fair Trade.

Now it’s time to celebrate!

Join Fair Trade Berkeley, Buy Local Berkeley and Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates to commemorate this accomplishment for Berkeley’s first ever Fair Trade happy hour at Saul’s Restaurant & Deli on September 23 from 4-5:30pm. Enjoy appetizers, sample Fair Trade treats from Divine Chocolate, Honest Tea, Numi Tea, La Yapa Quinoa and Thanksgiving Coffee. The happy hour event runs parallel to the Thursday's Farmer's Market, so bring your bags and enjoy the Buy Local, Buy Fair extravaganza!

Admission is $15.00 and includes on Fair Trade cocktail by the Fair Trade Spirits Company. Proceeds will help further the educational outreach of Fair Trade Berkeley to grow consumer and retailer awareness regarding the importance of Fair Trade.

For more information or to RSVP, go to http://fairtradeberkeley.eventbrite.com/
For more information go to: http://fairtradeberkeley.blogspot.com/
Or RSVP on Facebook.

First ever FAIR. Cocktail Crawl - The Official Launch Party of FAIR. Spirits in the U.S.

First Ever FAIR. Cocktail Crawl – The Official Launch Party of FAIR. Spirits in the US (San Francisco, CA)

Time: August 31 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Locations: The Burritt Room
Crescent Hotel, 2nd Floor, 417 Stockton Street, CA 94108
San Francisco, CA
(then Cantina, Rickhouse, Gitane...see map below)

Featured Guests Paul Rice, President & CEO of TransFair USA Alexandre Koiransky, Co-Founder of Fair Trade Spirits Company Danny Ronen, West Coast Brand Ambassador Fair Trade Spirits Company

More Info

The Burritt Room will open its doors to host and start the first Fair Trade Cocktail Crawl ever! From The Burritt Room, to Cantina, Rickhouse and Gitane, where guests will have a chance to try exquisite cocktails with a part of the proceeds going to the TransFair USA non-profit organization, who help us support independent farming communities around the world. Come join us at some of the finest establishments in town who are also great believers in the Fair Trade movement. Cheers! Hosted and Organized by FAIR. Spirits

RSVP

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149775175048899&ref=mf

MAP

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=burritt%20room%20crescent%20hotel&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Dine Out for Fair Trade

Dine Out for Fair Trade
Wednesday, August 25th
5:00pm - 8:00pm

Flora
1900 Telegraph Avenue

We invite you to save your appetite for fine food and drink and join TransFair USA at Flora Restaurant and Bar the evening of Wednesday, August 25th.

For every Rosemary Collins you sip or pan-roasted halibut you savor that night, TransFair USA receives 10% as a donation towards its Fair Trade work with 1.5 million farmer families in 60 countries across the globe.

If you are already a devotee, you know Flora is the creation of Dona Savitsky and Thomas Schnetz and can be found at the corner of Telegraph and 19th across from Oakland’s renovated Fox Theatre. Flora’s decor celebrates opulent Art Deco style with high ceilings, a checkered floor, and classic elongated sconces to light your way. The menu offers carefully crafted cocktails and reinvented American classics: sweet pea soup with crisp pork belly or Yukon Gold potato pave with morel mushrooms and summer truffles.

Dine out in style at Flora on August 25th. Dine out for Fair Trade.
http://www.floraoakland.com/
http://www.transfairusa.org/

Open for dinner 5pm to 9:30pm. Reservations via OpenTable. Planning to dine with friends? Call the restaurant at 510.286.0100 to book a reservation for a party of six (6) or more.

Enjoy Fair Trade Cocktails Tomorrow in Oakland

Tomorrow, Thursday, August 19, 2010

Tasting Event & Original Cocktails made with

FAIR. Vodka, Goji Berry & Coffee Liqueur

In Oakland, CA

The Terrace Room at The Lake Merritt Hotel in Oakland (6- 9 PM)

http://www.theterraceroom.com/

Tastings will be $1/Cocktails are $7+

Live Music

Mixologist Brandon Peacock

$1 of every cocktail using FAIR. will go to TFUSA

Food is Fantastic

RSVP

Adesso in Oakland (9PM – onward)

www.dopoadesso.com

Tastings will be $1/Cocktails are Awesome $9+

Fair Trade Vodka, Coffee and Goji Berry Liqueur Tastings

$1 of every cocktail using FAIR. will go to TFUSA

5 minute drive from The Terrace Room

RSVP

Fair Trade Judaica Fair

Fair Trade Judaica Fair
Sunday, October 17
2:00 - 5:00 pm
East Bay Jewish Community Center
1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley

Representatives from Divine Chocolate, Maya Works, Partners for Just Trade, and Pampeana will be at this event.

Fair Trade Judaica will be selling consigned products from Casa Bonampak and Mayan Hands, as well as Jewish blessing flags produced from a fair trade group in Nepal.

Afikomen, the local Judaica store, will be selling products from African Home, Global Exchange.

Fair trade coffee, tea, and snacks will also be sold.

Please plan to join us!

Get Ready for Back to School with Global Exchange!! Fair Trade Curriculum Mural Project

"Fair Trade Chocolate's Journey from Bean to Bar"
Saturday, August 14th
11am-4pm
Global Exchange Fair Trade Store
4018 24th Street @ Noe Street, San Francisco

Bring your kids to the Global Exchange Store in San Francisco to join in the making of a mural that follows "Fair Trade Chocolate's Journey from Bean to Bar."

A fun educational neighborhood activity to foster learning about Fair Trade and a time for parents to taste FREE Fair Trade Divine Chocolate!

To harvest the cocoa, the pods must be cut from the trees, split open and the slimy pulp containing the beans scraped out. The bitter cocoa bean is subsequently wrapped in plantain leaved to ferment and then dried under the sun.

The beans are then shipped to Europe where they are roasted, crushed, and ground into a rich cocoa butter. The cocoa butter is combined in varying proportions with sugar and milk and stirred continuously over several days, then cooled and molded into the delicious chocolate bars we enjoy at home!

Come join us this Saturday! Hope to see you there!

*The cocoa from Divine chocolate is grown in the southern regions of Ghana by a farmers' co-operative called Kuapa Kokoo. Most Ghanaian cocoa is grown on small family farms, and is usually intercropped with other plants and trees, such as plantains, maize and spices. Cocoa trees grow to between 12-15 meters high and produce blossoms which when pollinated turn into cocoa pods. Each pod contains 40 seeds which become cocoa beans. It takes one tree's whole crop for the year to make three big bars of Divine.

Come to the Eco Fashion Show 7/29 in Santa Rosa

When: next week, Thursday, July 29th, Doors open, edibles, and wine served at 6:30pm. Fashion Show at 7:30pm. Style-buying after the show.

Why: TransFair USA and three other Bay Area nonprofits receive 20% of clothes purchases as a donation.

Who: Indigenous Designs founders Scott Leonard and Matt Reynolds have been dedicated to Fair Trade and environmentally-friendly fashion for more than 13 years. TransFair USA is excited to partner with this dynamic duo of stylish gentleman as we move forward with our groundbreaking Fair Trade Certified apparel pilot project.

How: All guests will be able to special order Fall 2010 designs at 50% below retail prices. *Men’s styles available too.* Orders will be personalized just for you and made just in time for the 2010 winter holidays.

Where: The Glaser Center, downtown Santa Rosa, CA.

Guest List Only. This event is open to the first 350 people that RSVP.
Register here today to save your spot: http://ecofashionjuly29.eventbrite.com
Event is free - $10 suggested donation.

Like to read more? On our blog: http://transfairusa.org/blog/?p=4122

Weds 7/28 Fair Trade Cocoa Coop visit report back @ SF Global Exchange store

Join us at the Global Exchange Fair Trade Store in San Francisco for a
Dominican Republic Fair Cocoa Harvest Global Exchange Reality Tours
Report Back by honored participants and Fair Harvesters
Keri Ferencz and Hime Levine

Date: Wednesday, July 28
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm
Where: 4018 24th St, San Francisco CA 94114

As participants in this year’s Fair Cocoa Harvest Reality Tour, Keri and Hime traveled to the Dominican Republic where they worked along-side farmers of a Fair Trade cocoa cooperative (CONACADO) to harvest cocoa. Having shared in the daily lives of small-scale farming families, they can share with us their understanding of what Fair Trade means for producers.

Fair Harvest is not intended to be a tour or tourist visit, but rather to be a lived experience that will motivate the participants to be committed fair trade advocates when they return. Spend your vacation harvesting social justice while learning about the beautiful culture, biodiversity, sustainable development and history of the Dominican Republic!

Learn about the importance of Fair Trade in the cocoa industry and how certification and economic alternatives can dramatically improve the lives of producers.

Berkeley is set to become the 19th Fair Trade Town!

With many Fair Trade supporters in the crowd, the Berkeley City Council passed a Fair Trade resolution at their July 13th meeting to make Berkeley a Fair Trade town! The Fair Trade Berkeley steering committee members and City Manager’s office have worked very hard over the past year to craft a "Best-in-Class" Fair Trade Town Resolution and City Ordinance.

Steering committee member Dagny Tucker, expressed appreciation to Berkeley city officials and citizens for passing the resolution and upholding Berkeley’s history of being a leader in just choices as the resolution works alongside Berkeley’s long list of other important purchasing laws (sweatfree,precautionary principle, etc).

You can see a video of Dagny's speech here http://bit.ly/9iDDCl



An official declaration celebration will be held in August.The mayor and city council are set to attend. Details to come, so keep checking the blog!

See East Bay Express' article about the Resolution http://bit.ly/9W5m1d

See the actual resolution http://bit.ly/abFdPS

Fair Trade Spirits Now Available!

Introducing FAIR.

FAIR. announces the rise of transparent and sustainable ethics in ultra premium spirits. By associating the best French distillers to local cooperatives in the third world, FAIR. aims at bringing to the consumers the finest spirits possible produced from fair trade ingredients. They believe in showcasing in the most transparent way all the human capital that goes into making unique ultra premium spirits.

In May this year, the Fair Trade Spirits Company launched FAIR. Vodka in the USA, the first Quinoa-based Vodka but also the first vodka with Fair Trade certified ingredients. The quinoa is cultivated by over 1,200 small producers in the Bolivian Altiplano, gathered within the Anapqui cooperative, the main association of farming producers in the country.


FAIR.Vodka has been awarded twice last year as one of the best Vodkas in the world.

FAIR. Vodka will be featured at the next Farmers Market Cocktail Night on July 7th, presented by the Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA ) and the San Francisco Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG). It will be an evening dedicated to the savory flavors of summer. While this event is sold out...

Our friends at Purity Organic are sponsoring an event TONIGHT called SF Green Drinks with drink specials!
Date: Tuesday, July 6th
Time: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Location: 111 Minna Gallery (just two blocks from the Montgomery BART)
Cost: FREE!
http://sfgreendrinks.org/


Minna Gallery will also soon carry FAIR VODKA! Some other cool new locations where FAIR just became available are Gather Restaurant in Berkeley and the Alembic on Haight in SF.

For a full updated list of where to buy FAIR, click here: http://www.fairtradespirits.com/North-America/buy-drink-FAIR.html (You must be 21 to enter).

FAIR. is also the latest member of the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition, supporting local Fair Trade Towns campaigns

Berkeley becomes a Fair Trade Town July 13th @ 7pm - Please Attend!

Hello, Fair Trade Berkeley Friends and Supporters!!!!

I hope this message finds you well amidst fun summer events. I'm writing with Good News!!!

Since our last visit with the Berkeley City Council, members of the Fair Trade Berkeley steering committe have been meeting with the City Manager's office, crafting what seems to be truly a "Best-in-Class" Fair Trade Town Resolution and City Ordinance. We can feel very proud of Berkeley for continuing to keep the bar high and for insisting on an ordinance that works alongside its long list of other important purchasing laws (sweatfree, precautionary principle, etc.)

Please plan to show your appreciation by attending the Berkeley City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 13th, 7-7:30pm. This will be QUICK this time (hooray!) because the resolution is on the Consents Calendar (the first 15 minutes of the meeting). Essentially, the City Council will "consent" to the resolution barring no objection from the public. Fair Trade Berkeley steering committee dynamo, Dagny Tucker, will be present to offer a less-than-2 minute testimony, expressing our appreciation.

By attending, you will visibly represent growers and producers around the world, along with local retailers, faith communities and consumers who understand that Fair Trade choices made locally create world-changing impacts globally.

Please mark your calendars for:

NEXT Tuesday, July 13th, 7-7:30pm.

Location: 2134 MLK Jr Way, second floor.

This is exciting....we hope to see you all there! Thank you for all your support! Three Cheers for Fair Trade! Stay tuned for details about our Fair Trade Town celebration in August...

Ben and Jerry's Celebrates Fair Trade Ice Cream in San Francisco

The Ben and Jerry’s What’s Inside Tour hit San Francisco last week, bringing free ice cream to happy recipients at Justin Herman Plaza, Union Square, and Golden Gate Park. The nationwide tour, which stayed in San Francisco from June 17-20, has aimed to celebrate and publicize Ben and Jerry’s Fair Trade Certified flavors and the company’s commitment to converting all of their ice cream to 100% Fair Trade Certified status by 2013. This conversion will benefit producers of ice cream ingredients like coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and sugar.

Volunteers at the ice cream giveaway events saw large crowds (it’s hard to resist free ice cream, especially Ben and Jerry’s ice cream) and distributed information on Fair Trade to the people who lined up for ice cream. One brochure included both facts about Ben and Jerry’s Fair Trade practices and a coupon for a reduced-price pint of ice cream, motivating passerby to take the brochure and sparking a dialogue on Fair Trade between volunteers and those in line. Many people could be heard discussing fair trade with their friends and asking questions like, “I’ve heard of Fair Trade, but what exactly does it mean?” In this way, the event proved to be a great way to get people talking about Fair Trade and learning about how it benefits farmers and workers.

While participants took advantage of opportunities to take free pictures with mock cows and partake in various games, the focus was definitely on the ice cream. Many people raved about its high quality, telling friends about the event and asking volunteers about Fair Trade flavors. One of the Fair Trade flavors on offer was Milk and Cookies, which uses Fair Trade Certified cocoa and vanilla and got positive reviews from almost everyone who tried it. Other Fair Trade Certified flavors include classics like chocolate, vanilla, and coffee, so make sure to look for the Fair Trade Certified label the next time you’re browsing the frozen foods aisle!

The Ben & Jerry's What's Inside Tour Comes to San Francisco

The Ben & Jerry's What's Inside Tour is coming to San Francisco! What's that mean for you? Free Fair Trade Certified ice cream that supports family farms and gives back to the community.

Ben & Jerry's wants you to know what's inside their ice cream from cage free eggs, to Fair Trade Certified cocoa to dairy from family farms. And to tell their story they are going on a nation wide tour to spread the ice cream love with a big focus on visiting Fair Trade Towns like San Francisco.

Ben & Jerry's recently announced that they will be making all of the ingredients for all of their ice cream 100% Fair Trade Certified by 2013 and they are big supporters of the Fair Trade Towns USA campaign.

In fact, Ben and Jerry themselves stopped by the TransFair USA offices the other day to discuss how we can educate more people in the U.S. about what Fair Trade means and this event is a big part of how we are doing it!

Join the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition and the Ben & Jerry's What's Inside team for some free Fair Trade Certified ice cream at four locations in San Francisco from June 17-20.

Members of the San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley campaigns will be joining the Ben & Jerry's team to talk to afternoon shoppers about the benefits of Fair Trade for producers and how making a difference can be as delicious and easy as a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream!

We need volunteers! If you would like some free ice cream and to kick it with us on a sunny afternoon, please email Jamie Guzzi, jguzzi@transfairusa.org with your preferred location and availability.

Here's the scoop from Ben & Jerry's!

Ben & Jerry's What's Inside Tour
June 17-20 in San Francisco

We believe in using the power of our day-to-day business decisions to help drive positive change. One decision we make is how and where we buy our ingredients because we believe its what's inside that counts.

We want you to find out what's inside Ben & Jerry's so we are launching the "What's Inside Tour". Come join us and learn about how we work to make the best possible ice cream in the best way possible, & sample some FREE ice cream.

From supporting small family farms to going completely Fair Trade by 2013, we're taking our commitments (and our ice cream) on the road. Stop by any of these San Francisco events to learn more and sample free ice cream while supplies last!

June 17th & 18th @ Justin Herman Plaza
1 Market St
Noon - 3pm each day

June 19th @ Union Square
Geary St at Stockton St
Noon-3pm

June 20th @ Golden Gate Park
Bandshell/Fountain
Noon-3pm

To learn more, visit:
http://www.benjerry.com/activism/feature/whats-inside/

RSVP on Facebook and invite friends!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124409257593970&ref=mf

Learn more about What's Inside your pint of Ben & Jerry's at their fun and interactive website:

Click for more info.

Learn more about Ben & Jerry's commitment to Fair Trade and hear stories from their fair trade farmers here:

Click for more info.

Check out pictures of the tour from Fair Trade advocates in Boston!

Click to view the entire set.

Bike to Work Day Riders Enjoy a Morning Perk with Fair Trade Certified Coffee

Bike to Work Day riders were treated to Fair Trade Certified coffee for the second year in a row as part of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's 18th Annual Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 13th.

All of the coffee served at the events 17 morning energizer stations was Fair Trade Certified thanks to the efforts of the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition and five local Fair Trade Certified coffee roasters including America's Best Coffee Roasting Company, Capricorn Coffees, Equator Estate Coffees & Teas, Sugarlump Coffee Lounge, and Wild Card Roasters.

Volunteers from the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition were up early in the morning brewing over 85 gallons of Fair Trade coffee to fuel the morning ride of a record breaking 100,000 plus participants. In recognition of their efforts, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition prominently posted signage at all of the morning energizer stations explaining their organization’s commitment to Fair Trade and included statements of support in all of the outreach materials for the event including their website, e-newsletter and the summer edition of their print newsletter, the Tube Times.

This year’s Bike to Work Day was busy than ever with ridership in San Francisco’s Market Street corridor up more than one third from last year. According to the SFMTA, cyclists accounted for more than 75% of all traffic on Market Street between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 am.

Cyclists old and new were joined by a record number of elected officials including Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisors Eric Mar, Carmen Chu, Chris Daly, Bevan Dufty, David Campos, Sophie Maxwell and John Avalos, along with SFMTA Director Nathaniel Ford, SFMTA Chairman Tom Nolan, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Director of the Department of Public Works Ed Reiskin, General Manager of Parks and Recreation Phil Ginsburg and Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting.


Together city leaders and members of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition gathered on the steps of City Hall to celebrate an exciting array of new bicycle improvements that were added to the streets in time for the event including new green separated bike lanes on Market Street and five new on-street bike parking corrals on Valencia Street’s vibrant and busy commercial corridor.

The event was San Francisco’s contribution to the international celebration of World Fair Trade Day, which once again drew tens of thousands of supporters to hundreds of citywide events like ours during the two week period between May 1st and May 15th. The Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition is proud to add the over 2,500 people who enjoyed coffee, the hundred thousand plus who rode their bike to work and the tens of thousands more who received word of this event via the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s outreach to the rapidly growing official tally for World Fair Trade Day 2010.

Thanks again to all of our sponsors for providing the coffee to make this happen, to our intrepid volunteers that stayed up all night to brew it and to the people of San Francisco for turning out in such great numbers to show such a simple act as riding your bike to work or choosing Fair Trade Certified coffee can change the world.

See you all at Bike to Work Day 2011!


Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition Member, Heather Franzese poses with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom after a quick cup of Weaver's Organic Fair Trade coffee at the Mid-Market Energizer Station.

For a complete set of Bike to Work Day photos click here:

Click here to view the entire photo set.

For a taste of our contribution click here:

Click here to view the entire photo set.

Bike to Work Day Goes Fair Trade

All 17 Morning Energizer Stations Serving Fair Trade Certified Coffee


Thursday, May 13th is Bike to Work Day in San Francisco and all seventeen morning energizer stations will be serving Fair Trade Certified coffee.

Join commuters old and new in making a statement about the importance of cycling and raise a cup for the world’s farmers. Stop by one of the 17 morning energizer stations and load up on Fair Trade Certified coffee, healthy snacks and even a convenient tote bag for future commutes.

Fair Trade Certified products directly support a better life for farming families through fair prices, direct trade, community development and environmental stewardship. When you choose Fair Trade Certified coffee along with your morning ride, you are choosing a better life for the world’s farmers, a cleaner environment and a more sustainable commute.

Special thanks to America's Best Coffee Roasting Company, Capricorn Coffees, Sugarlump Coffee Lounge, Wild Card Roasters, and Equator Estate Coffees & Teas for providing the coffee for San Francisco Bike to Work Day 2010 and Alter Eco Americas for providing the sugar.

Remember to look for the Fair Trade Certified label when you shop and look for our illustrious, Fair Trade Certified Bike to Work Day sponsors at each of the following stations:

Bernal/Mission, Cesar Chavez @ Harrison, Sugarlump Coffee Lounge
City College, Ram Plaza, Phelan Campus, TBD
Civic Center City Hall, Polk St. steps, Wild Card Roasters
Downtown, Market @ Battery (7:30am-2pm), Wild Card Roasters
Embarcadero, Ferry Building, Wild Card Roasters
Inner Richmond, Cabrillo @ Arguello, Equator Estate Coffees & Teas
Inner Sunset, Irving @ 7th Ave., America's Best Coffee Roasting Company
Mid Market, Market @ 12th St., Capricorn Coffees
Mission, Valencia @ 17th St., Wild Card Roasters
Presidio, Main Post, Halleck @ Lincoln, Equator Estate Coffees & Teas Incorporated
SF State, 19th Ave. @ Holloway (8-10am), Starbucks (Café Estima)
SOMA, Caltrain, 4th @ Townsend, Capricorn Coffees
SOMA, Folsom @ 7th St., Capricorn Coffees
UCSF, Medical Center, Irving @ 2nd Ave., America's Best Coffee Roasting Company
UCSF Mission Bay, 16th @ Owens St., Sugarlump Coffee Lounge
3rd Street, Chesar Chavez @ 3rd Street, Sugarlump Coffee Lounge
Kaiser Hospital, Geary @ St. Josephs, Starbucks (Café Estima)

For more information on Bike to Work Day and how you can get involved visit:
http://www.sfbike.org/?btwd

To download a map of energizer stations and commuter convoy departure locations visit:
http://www.sfbike.org/?btwd2010

This event is occurring in solidarity with celebrations for World Fair Trade Day 2010.

Join the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition and the San Francisco Bike Coalition in celebrating World Fair Trade Day at home on or around May 8th.

For more information on how you can get involved please visit:
http://www.fairtraderesourcenetwork.org

A Special Message from Lauren Van Ham and the Berkeley Fair Trade Campaign

“Hello, Fair Trade Friends,

For all of you who were able to attend Berkeley's City Council meeting last night, THANK YOU! And for those of you who could not be there, but were sending good Fair Trade vibes to the East Bay, we felt them! (Do I sound like I'm from Berkeley, or what???)

Although the City Council decision to defer to the City Manager for review means a delay for the resolution, it certainly seems the review will only add credibility and strength to the decision and it will likely pass at the meeting on June 1st. Assuming this happens, it would be fun to celebrate with anyone willing to visit Berkeley that night. Stay tuned for some Fair Trade party details....

In the meantime, thank you again for the show of support. And SPECIAL thanks to Billy and Carolyn who provided succinct and impactful public testimonies. Wishing you all great fun as you recognize and celebrate World Fair Trade Day”

Lauren Van Ham
Chair, Berkeley Fair Trade campaign

Visit the Berkeley Fair Trade Campaign here:
http://fairtradeberkeley.blogspot.com/

Congratulations San Francisco on the First Ever Fair Trade Wine Night!

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in attending the tremendously successful Fair Trade Wine Night last night. We had an outstanding outreach campaign via Facebook, and with the additional buzz generated by the local press our Fair Trade Wine Night was indeed the talk of town.

The night was bustling at The Hidden Vine, where patrons excited about the inaugural Wine Night wanted to learn more about getting involved in future events. Also painting the town red (and white) was Blush Wine Bar, as it managed to completely sell out its Fair Trade wine selection!

Wine is breaking in as the new Fair Trade category in the US, and it has grown leaps and bounds with just over a year under its belt. Last night was a wonderful opportunity to increase consumer awareness about Fair Trade wine and a perfect example of one way that consumers can help Fair Trade grow by creating market linkages in the US for wine farmers. Let’s keep the enthusiasm, momentum, and energy going about Fair Trade wine.

Thanks again, and hope to see you all for another night of Fair Trade wine!

Visit the official Fair Trade Wine Night site:
http://www.fairtradewinenight.com/

and the Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102599169775704

Berkeley City Council to Hear Fair Trade City Resolution

Dear Fair Trade Friends,

We have exciting news! We just received word that the Berkeley City Council will be hearing our resolution to declare Berkeley a Fair Trade City tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 27th at 8pm.

The resolution is included as a part of the “Actions Calendar” for tomorrow’s city council meeting, which means that representatives of the Fair Trade Berkeley campaign will be given up to two minutes each to present arguments in favor of the resolution and provide material to address any questions asked by the council.

If successful, the item under consideration could result in a vote in support of the resolution, but we will need your help to demonstrate the broad community support for the Fair Trade in Berkeley to ensure that the City Council gets the message.

This is a crucial point in the Berkeley campaign as we move one step closer to declaring Berkeley a Fair Trade Town! Join us in showing your support for Fair Trade by attending the meeting in full Fair Trade attire – wear t-shirts with a Fair Trade message on them and bring colorful banners and signs. Then help us turn out the vote by inviting your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

In light of this exciting development, TransFair USA will be opening its community café to the general public between 5-7 pm café for a ‘prep’ rally filled with pizza and sign painting before we head down to the council meeting together. The TransFair USA offices are located at 1500 Broadway @ 15th St. in downtown Oakland. If you can join the ranks – great! But if not, then we hope to see you at City Hall.

Fair Trade Berkeley needs your voice, your signs, and your presence! Come one, come all!

What: Berkeley City Council Meeting
When: Tuesday, April 27 at 6:30pm, with Action Calendar discussion to begin around 8pm
Where: 2134 MLK Jr. Way, second floor, downtown Berkeley
Accessible by Downtown Berkeley BART Station

Event RSVP via Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=108858662488736&ref=mf

If you or another member of your organization are interested or available to speak on behalf of the resolution, please contact Jamie Guzzi, Grassroots Outreach Coordinator, TransFair USA, 510-663-5260 x. 309, jguzzi@transfaiusa.org.

For more information about the campaign to declare Berkeley a Fair Trade City please visit:
http://fairtradeberkeley.blogspot.com

Best,
Lauren, Dagny, Katrina, Katie, David, Billy, Jamie, Alicia
and the rest of the Fair Trade Berkeley Team.

Global Exchange Fair Trade Chocolate Tasting and Talk

Divine Chocolate Tasting Global Exchange Fair Trade Store DATE: Tuesday, May 4th TIME: 5:30pm Chocolate Tasting, 6pm Speaker LOCATION: 4018 24th Street @ Noe Street

Meet a Fair Trade Chocolate Farmer! Mr. Aduhene-Tano Kojo is the Recorder and Area president of the Fenaso-Domeabra Kuapa Kokoo Co-op in the Bekwai Area of Ghana. Mr. Kojo has been a member of Kuapa Kokoo since 1996 where he harvests about 10 bags of cocoa per year. Learn how Fair Trade has helped him to send his children to school and has benefited his whole community. Taste Divine Chocolate! At the heart of Divine's heavenly tasting chocolate there is a unique story. Not only do the Kuapa Kokoo farmers' receive a Fairtrade price for their cocoa, but they also own 45% of the company, therefore they have a direct influence over how the company is run and share in the profits from the chocolate.

Come hear about the direct benefits of Fair Trade!

Lift Your Glass to Fair Trade Wine

Come out and support our first ever Fair Trade Wine Night, Thursday, May 6th at 7pm.

Choose from one of four bars:

• The Wine Bar on Polk
• The Hidden Vine
• Rouge et Blanc
• Local Restaurant and Wine Merchant

and raise your glass to Fair Trade wine!

Fair Trade Certified products assure you that the people who produce the things you consume get the same rights we take for granted: a fair wage, safe working conditions, education for their kids, and access to health care.

We're recruiting bars around San Francisco to serve Fair Trade wine, which means you get to drink wine that Tastes Good and Does Good.

Even better, a dollar from every glass will be donated to support TransFair USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Oakland. Funds from the event will contribute to supporting Fair Trade farmers producing these sustainable wines in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa.

Please RSVP on Facebook and don't forget to invite your friends too!

Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition Springtime Coordination Meeting

Dear Friends,

Hooray for springtime – the season of awakenings and new beginnings! In the spirit of rejuvenation, it’s time again for us to reunite the Bay Area team as we kick our San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley campaigns into high gear. Join us for the next Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition meeting, Wednesday, April 21st as we roll out some fresh, new ideas for growing awareness of Fair Trade in the Bay Area.

World Fair Trade Day is fast approaching and we have a wide variety of events in the works including a Fair Trade Wine Night at San Francisco bars, a partnership with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to convert all of the coffee for Bike to Work Day to Fair Trade Certified and producer tours from Latin America and Ghana. We’ve also got some exciting new developments to report in the city’s efforts to implement Fair Trade and organic procurement.

Elsewhere in the Bay, the Fair Trade Berkeley campaign is making great strides in its efforts to declare Berkeley a Fair Trade Town and will be appearing before the Berkeley City Council, Tuesday, April 27th. Come find out more about how you can get involved in the city wide actions we’ve got planned for San Francisco and discuss ways our group can celebrate and support this crucial turning point in the campaign to declare Berkeley a Fair Trade Town.

Please come and offer your creativity and support!

Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition
Springtime Coordination Meeting
Wednesday April 21st, 6:30-8pm
Global Exchange, 2017 Mission St. Suite 200
San Francisco, CA
Across from the 16th Street BART



Visit the World Fair Trade Day 2010 website:
http://www.fairtraderesource.org/wftd-10/wftd-toolkit/about-wftd-2010/

Learn more about the San Francisco Bike Coalition and Bike to Work Day 2010:
http://www.sfbike.org/?btwd

Check out the list of participating bars in the upcoming Fair Trade Wine Night on May 6th here:
http://www.fairtradewinenight.com/

and on the Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=102599169775704

Read about the Fair Trade Berkeley campaign on its blog:
http://fairtradeberkeley.blogspot.com/

While you’re at it, check out what's happening in Oakland:
http://fairtradeoakland.blogspot.com/

Find out how you can participate in the live webcast and Q&A session at TransFair USA featuring five coffee farmers from Africa and South America by visiting here:
http://transfairusa.org/blog/?p=2645;

and here:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=108641469175830

Divine Chocolate Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who helped out with our big Divine Chocolate giveaway yesterday outside area outside area retail locations. We unfortunately had to move the event do to increased ridership on the BART with the Bay Bridge closure. But not before we got a lot of great press with articles in the SFist, KNTV NBC Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle, the SF Examiner, Mission Mission and the SF Weekly.

Volunteers in Halloween costumes handed out over three thousand pieces of Fair Trade Certified chocolate from Divine along with literature about our campaigns to declare Oakland and Berkeley a Fair Trade Town. Together we raised awareness among thousands of Bay Area commuters and shoppers about the benefits of Fair Trade for farmers around the world. Check out the pictures below!













View the Full Set on Flickr

SFist, October 29, 2009
“Free Chocolate for BART Commuters Tonight”
http://sfist.com/2009/10/29/free_chocolate_for_bart_commuters_t.php

KNTV NBC Bay Area, October 29, 2009
“Being a Frustrated Commuter has its Benefits”
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/around-town/food-drink/Being-a-Frustrated-Bay-Bridge-Commuter-Comes-With-Benefits-67263677.html

San Francisco Chronicle, October 28, 2009 “Free Candy, No Costumes Required”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=50408

SF Examiner
FREE Fair Trade Chocolate this Thursday
http://www.examiner.com/x-12008-SF-Organic-Food-Examiner~y2009m10d27-FREE-Fair-Trade-Chocolate-this-Thursday

MissionMission, October 29, 2009
“Free Chocolate For Commuters”
http://missionmission.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/free-chocolate-for-commuters/

SF Weekly, Oct, 29, 2009
“Free Chocolate at a Handful of BART Stations Tonight”
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2009/10/free_chocolate_at_select_bart.php

Divine Chocolate Giveaway Has Moved

*UPDATE*: CHANGE OF LOCATION
October is Fair Trade Month!
Fair Trade Certified Chocolate Giveaway TODAY

Media contact:
Katie Barrrow
TransFair USA
(510) 663-5260, ext. 388
kbarrow@transfairusa.org

UPDATE: Oct. 29, 2009 (2 p.m. P.S.T.)

The FREE, Fair Trade Certified Chocolate giveaway for BART commuters will still take place today, from 5-7 p.m., but at different locations.

Due to the unexpected Bay Area Bridge closure, more commuters than normal are depending on BART. TransFair USA, the Oakland-based nonprofit that helped to organize the giveaway, made the decision Wednesday afternoon to move the giveaways to four nearby locations so as not to interfere with the commuter traffic. The New Fair Trade Chocolate Giveaway Locations are:

Bittersweet Chocolate Café (near Rockridge Bart)
5427 College Ave
(Between Hudson St & Kales Ave)
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-7159
www.bittersweetcafe.com

Berkeley Bowl Main (near Ashby Bart)
2020 Oregon Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 843-6929
www.berkeleybowl.com

Rainbow Grocery (near 16th Street Bart)
1745 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 863-0620
www.rainbow.coop

Fog City News/Union Square Area(Divine Street Team will be there manning the streets on the 400 Block near Union Square)
455 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
http://www.fogcitynews.com

Volunteers from the Berkeley Fair Trade Campaign, Oakland Fair Trade Campaign and Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition will treat evening commuters to Divine Chocolate in celebration of Fair Trade Month.

By making the switch to Fair Trade Certified chocolate this Halloween, such as Divine, farmers are paid a premium price for their products in exchange for following rigorous standards that guarantee worker rights, community empowerment and environmental sustainability. Farmers and employees also use these premiums to improve their communities by building schools, medical clinics or a water purification system.

About TransFair USA
TransFair USA is the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified™ products in the United States. TransFair USA audits and certifies transactions between U.S. companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages. Visit www.FairTradeCertified.org.

To learn more about Fair Trade Month and view other event listings, please visit www.fairtrademonth.org.

Divine Chocolate Giveaway

Share the Love with Divine Chocolate
Fair Trade Chocolate Giveaway

Thursday, October 29th
at Montgomery Street, 24th Street, Rockridge and Ashby Stations

Join the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition and Divine Chocolate in Sharing the Love with afternoon BART riders and spreading the word about Fair Trade Month and our new campaigns to declare both Oakland and Berkeley a Fair Trade Town.

Divine Chocolate, owned by cocoa farmers and made for chocolate lovers, hopes that you are having a fantastic Fair Trade Month and is reaching out to commuters in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley to say thank you to all their loyal customers.

Volunteers with the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition will be handing out free samples of Divine Chocolate from 4-8 pm at Montgomery St. Station and from 5-7 pm at 24th Street, Rockridge and Ashby Stations.

We will also be tabling to share the Divine Chocolate story with commuters and encourage riders to choose Fair Trade Certified chocolate when they shop this Halloween. Along with the chocolate from Divine, volunteers will hand out a list of stores where folks can find Divine Chocolate in time to hand out at the door this Halloween.

Divine Chocolate is co-owned by the 45,000 farmers of Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana. Learn more about how your purchase of Divine Chocolate is helping farmers improve their communities and keep their kids in school in this cute animated video.





Looking to make the switch to Fair Trade Chocolate this Halloween? Share the love with friends, family and neighbors by buying Divine Chocolate to hand out at the door.

You can order online here:


Divine Halloween Milk Balls


Click Here to Buy Online


Divine Dark Chocolate Minis


Click Here to Buy Online


You can also find Divine Chocolate in these Bay Area Locations:

Montgomery Street Station Fog City News – 0.3 Miles 455 Market Street Suite 125 (Between Front St & Fremont St) San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-7400 www.fogcitynews.com Bristol Farms – 0.4 Miles Westfield Shopping Center 865 Market St San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 979-0106 www.bristolfarms.com 24th Street Station 26th & Guerrero Market – 0.3 Miles 1400 Guerrero Street (Between 26th St & Cesar Chavez St) San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 282-6274 www.26thandguerreromarket.com DeLano's IGA – 0.2 Miles 1245 S Van Ness Avenue (Between 23rd St & 24th St) San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 282-0514 www.delanomarkets.com Rainbow Grocery – 0.6 Miles 1745 Folsom St (Between 14th St & Erie St) San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 863-0621 www.rainbow.coop Bi-Rite Market – 0.5 Miles 3639 18th St (Between Guerrero St & Oakwood St) San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 241-9760 www.biritemarket.com Ashby Street Station Berkeley Bowl Main 2020 Oregon Street Berkeley, CA 94703 (510) 843-6929 Whole Foods Market 3000 Telegraph Ave (Between Dowling Pl & Webster St) Berkeley, CA 94705 (510) 649-1333 www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Rockridge Station Bittersweet Chocolate Café 5427 College Ave (Between Hudson St & Kales Ave) Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 654-7159 www.bittersweetcafe.com Other locations around the Bay Area: Bayside Market 120 Brannan St San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 227-0151 Berkeley Bowl West 920 Heinz Ave Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 898-9555 www.berkeleybowl.com Bittersweet Café 2123 Fillmore Street San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 346-8715 www.bittersweetcafe.com Global Exchange 2840 College Ave. Berkeley, CA 94705 (510) 548-0370 www.globalexchange.org Golden Natural Foods 130 Church Street San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 864-2107 Rincon Market 98 Howard St San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 512-8066 www.rinconmarket.com Whole Foods Market - Potrero Hill 450 Rhode Island St San Francisco, CA 94107 (415)-552-1155 www.wholefoodsmarket.com Whole Foods Market - SoMa 399 4th St San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 618-0066 www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Do you have two hours to dress up in your favorite Halloween costume and hand out chocolate with us? We will need at least 5 volunteers per station to make this event a success and we can't do it without your help. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Jamie Guzzi, 510-663-5260, x. 309 or email jguzzi@transfairusa.org.

Fair Trade Halloween Meeting

Dear Friends,

Join the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition as we plan our big Fair Trade Chocolate giveaway with Divine Chocolate, coming next Thursday, October 29th to a BART station near you.

Volunteers will be partnering with Divine Chocolate to hand out 2000 Divine Milk Chocolate Halloween foil wrapped chocolate balls, 400 Divine Chocolate Dark Mini Bars and 900 Divine Milk Chocolate Crunchy bars to afternoon BART riders at 24th St., Rockridge and Asbhy stations.

The event is part of Divine's national Share the Love campaign in celebration of Fair Trade Month. Come find out how you can get involved and help Share the Love with family, friends and neighbors this Halloween.

Host: Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition
Type: Meetings - Club/Group Meeting
Network: Global
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Global Exchange, 2017 Mission St. Suite 200

Please RSVP:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162092967702

For more information or to volunteer please contact Jamie Guzzi, jguzzi@transfairusa.org, 510-663-5260 x. 309.

Fair Trade Month Events

Click here to view entire set

The Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition has been busy with a number of local events in Oakland and Berkeley and more to come later this month in San Francisco. To kick it all off we hosted a Fair Trade Month "Kick-Off" party on Tuesday, September 29th at the Fox Den in downtown Oakland.

The event was the official launch for both the Fair Trade Oakland campaign and the national Fair Trade Month campaign and Fair Trade supporters, activists and staff from local Fair Trade businesses and nonprofits came by to share a drink, participate in our raffle and learn more about the campaigns. We also had a photo booth where you could have your picture taken as the famous Fair Trade Certified "bucket boy" himself!


Click here to view the entire set

On Tuesday, October 6th we had a flurry of events to celebrate Fair Trade Month and Fairhills Fair Trade Wines from Argentina, Chile and South Africa. In mid afternoon we started with a wonderful speaking engagement with MBA students and the NET impact group at the HAAS School of Business at UC Berkeley. The event feautered a panel discussion including TransFair USA CFO, Joan Catherine Braun; Fair Trade Towns USA coordinator, Billy Linstead Goldsmith; and Founder of Origin Wines and exporter of Fair Trade Certified Fairhills Wine, Bernard Fontannaz.

Joan presented a wonderfully eloquent speech on the mission of TrasFair USA and Fair Trade Certified as a successful model for sustainable trade. Billy presented on the history of the national Fair Trade Towns movement and the growing movement for a Fair Trade Oakland and Berkeley. Bernard spoke on the impact of Fair Trade Certified wines for wine producers in Argentina, Chile and South Africa and gave some moving insight into how Fair Trade is truly changing lives.

Later that afternoon, Prestige Wines, hosted a wine tasting and tabling with Bernard at the Whole Foods Market in Potrero Hill and celebrated the launch of their new Fair Trade Certified Bus Stop wines. The event was a smashing success with over 35 bottles sold even in the slow, mid-afternoon 2 hour time slot. The premium generated from the sale of every bottle of Fairhills Bus Stop wine goes to fund school buses for the children of vineyard workers.


Click here to view entire set

We ended the day with a delightful wine and chocolate tasting and fundraiser at the Bay Area HUB in Berkeley. Alter Eco sampled their chocolates and Prestige Wines sampled their Fairhills wines available at Whole Foods Market and Cost Plus World Market. TransFair USA's Development Director, Lynn Lohr presented a heartwarming speech about TransFair USA and Wes Selke of Good Capital spoke of his companies investment in Fair Trade products. Bernard Fontannaz finished the night with a wonderful presentation about Fairhills Fair Trade Certified wines and Matthieu Senard of Alter Eco asked some interesting questions that got him talking about the history of Apartheid in South Africa and how Fair Trade offers a way forward. He also presented a video of the Fairhills Vineyards where we got to see first hand how the vineyard works and hear the hopes and dreams of its workers for a new future with Fair Trade.

Our BAFTC Fair Trade Month activities continued last night with a Fair Trade movie screening at the Numi Tea Garden in Oakland. Cosponsored by Numi Tea and Alter Eco, the event featured a film screening and discussion of two Fair Trade films "All in This Tea" and "The Price of Sugar" and guests were treated to an assortment of Fair Trade and locally produced food and drink.

The event featured a panel discussion with Ahmed Rahim, CEO of Numi Organic Tea; Edouard Rollet, COO of Alter Eco Products; Cate Baril, Director of Grocery and Ingredients at TransFair USA and Maria Lafleur, a former Peace Corps volunteer from the Dominican Republic. Attendees also enjoyed a showcase of Fair Trade Certified products, including tea, olive oil, chocolate, honey and sugar, as well as a sampling of Fair Trade Ceritied wine and local pizza from Arizmendi. Many Thanks to our product donors, Numi Organic Tea, Alter Eco Products, Stellar Organic Winery and Wholesome Sweeteners.

And there's still one more event to come! Stay tuned for details about our upcoming Fair Trade Chocolate giveaway with Divine Chocolate at the 24th St., Rockridge and Ashby BART stations on October 29th!