FAIR TRADE AT VPC

The Presbyterian Coffee Project
Coffee, Tea, Chocolate Sales (after Worship  ~11:45 a.m.)

Coffee and Tea Products

In joining with small farmers to create democratically-run cooperatives, guaranteeing pre-harvest financing, setting international quality standards, and stabilizing production and sales pricing, fair trade practices are raising people out of poverty worldwide.

Fair Trade is “win-win” all around, as consumers get to enjoy the highest quality gourmet products, knowing that the small farmers who grow these premium crops are fairly and respectfully compensated for their efforts.

At the 2003 Presbyterian Women’s Gathering in Louisville, KY, several VPC members attended a workshop on fair trade, a for-profit economic model that puts more of those profits in the hands of small farmers everywhere, at the source of many of our favorite products.

The Presbyterian Coffee Project works in partnership with Equal Exchange, a Boston-based fair trade organization. Through Equal Exchange, a delegation of eight (Alice Chiang, Anita Wotiz, Ginney and Jim Uhl, Jonathan Evans, Doris Davis, and Gian and Robin Polastri) took part in a profoundly impactful trip to El Salvador in January 2006 to learn about fair trade first hand, including an overnight stay with small farmer families at the Las Colinas coffee cooperative.

Since their return, fair trade awareness and activity at VPC has increased exponentially. Bi-weekly sales of fairly traded coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate products are always brisk. And the continued visibility of fair trade on our church campus has made us all more observant of the growing number of fair trade products on conventional grocery store shelves.

VPC is proud to continue partnering with Equal Exchange through the Interfaith Program of the Presbyterian Coffee Project, selling a wide variety of organic and conventional whole bean and drip grind coffees, bag, pyramid and loose teas, baking and drinking cocoa and utterly delicious chocolate bars. These items are offered for sale bi-weekly during VPC’s Coffee Hour.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROMOTE FAIR TRADE

Join the VPC Fair Traders! Volunteer with your family or friends to sell fair trade products at Coffee Hour. This commitment usually involves no more than two Sundays within a six-month period. It’s fun, easy (and you’ll have first crack at stocking up on all the goodies!) Contact Robin Polastri at 650.712.9194 or E-mail Robin for more information.

Be bold!! Be a Fair Trade Advocate! Write up a customer request/comment the next time you’re at Starbucks. Ask your local grocery store manager to carry more fairly traded products – and to put them higher up on the shelves! Tell your friends about the incredible variety of gourmet products available. Give them as gifts for the holidays. Look on line for other Fair Trade companies and products. Invest in Fair Trade for a profit that helps you do well while you are doing good.

You can find more information about fair trade, purchasing fair trade products, or investing in fair trade at Equal Exchange. To learn more about other fair trade products, go to the Presbyterian Church, USA website.