NEWSCONTEST

Think Seattle coffee is all about Starbucks? Well, for this installment of Face of Fair Trade, we're featuring Seattle-based coffee company, Pura Vida Coffee. This coffee company that started in 1998 decided to put the power of capitalism business to work for the direct benefit of of coffee-growing communities in developing countries. Our Faces of Fair Trade series highlights different actors in the movement that have worked to shape and form Fair Trade. Here is Pura Vida's story.

What is your role in the Fair Trade movement?

Pura Vida is committed to selling 100% Fair Trade, Organic, and Shade-Grown coffee.

How did you first get involved with Fair Trade?

Pura Vida Coffee has been a leader in the Fair Trade movement from the beginning in the US. Pura Vida was started in 1998, the same year that Transfair USA began and together Fair Trade became a reality in the US marketplace.

Why is Fair Trade important to you/in general?

Fair Trade represents a social minded approach to business. The philosophy of Fair Trade, primarily the aspect of putting the farmer first, aligns with the purpose and mission of Pura Vida – Create Good in the lives of coffee farmers and their children.

What do you see as the challenges of the Fair Trade movement? In addition to this question, what do you see as a challenge for the Fair Trade movement with this whole 'financial crisis' talk?

I see two primary challenges with Fair Trade. First, even with a guaranteed price for coffee, this price is still not high enough for small family farmers to be empowered out of poverty. Most of these farmers need to diversify into other products and/or markets. Pura Vida is committed to giving back to these communities through economic, health and education projects.

The financial crisis is a major concern for these rural farmers. As people tighten their spending in the US, the poor will suffer even more. It is of utmost importance that now, more than before the financial crisis, that the truth of the rural coffee farmer be told to the consumer. People most understand that what one decides to buy has a direct effect on so many others, especially the people of developing nations.

Why is 'free trade' not 'fair trade'?

Free Trade simply opens the boarders for nations to do business without high taxes or tariffs. Free Trade does not work at the micro level of the rural farmer. Free Trade may allow a company to do business with another country but it in no way looks at the quality of life of the individual producing the product, Fair Trade attempts to do this, it is not perfect but it is a great start.

Is there any background/general information you want to add?

Please take a look at the Pura Vida website to learn about all that we do to Create Good. Also, a brief history can be found about us here.

Better yet, you can check out this short video all about Pura Vida Coffee. Also, on their site, you can win some free coffee apparently when you share your story of 'creating good'. Thanks to Jeff at Pura Vida for taking the time to share their story.

It looks like over 380,000 thousand of you participated in this year's Fairtrade Fortnight 'Go Bananas' campaign, making it the biggest banana-eating event. For those that participated, the Fairtrade Foundation is encouraging all to submit their photos and share their banana fun. During the campaign, It looks like the offices of the Fairtrade Foundation were conducting business as usual. I know how that goes. Browse the rest of the photos and if you have a favorite photo from Fairtrade Fortnight, you can enter it to win a prize.

[photo: Fairtrade Foundation]

Divine morning time. Fair Trade chocolate company, Divine chocolate wants to help you throw a chocolate party.

Divine Chocolate is dedicated to making the chocolate market fair for cocoa farmers. But we need chocolate lovers like you to play a part. Here's an opportunity for us to work together to educate children about how chocolate can be sweet for everyone. Enter to win a Divine Chocolate Party for your kids and their friends.

The lucky winner will get a case of Divine chocolate to give out at the party along with a video from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative talking about the importance of Fair Trade for them and for everyone. Enter enter enter. Deadline is March 30th.

Divine chocolate has also put out a request. BusinessWeek is looking for the most promising social enterprises in the U.S. that aims to both turn a profit and solve social problems. Divine chocolate is asking us all to nominate them for the title of Best Social Enterprise. Methinks a lot of Fair Trade businesses out there in the U.S. deserve a nomination as well. Get on it. Deadline is February 20th. TODAY!

It was my Civics teacher in High School that opened my eyes to Fair Trade. It was the lessons he taught me and the idea that I could make a difference that has made me into the activist and Fair Trade advocate I am today.  I even gave up chocolate for a little while because I was so upset at the corporate chocolate industry. It was my chocolate hunger strike. Then I found out about my Fair Trade options. LUCKILY.

The impact of learning about social justice issues in the classroom is why I am such a strong advocate of teaching Fair Trade in the classroom. TransFair offers a curriculum as well as Equal Exchange and the Fair Trade Resource Network has a handy dandy list of 'changing the world in the classroom'.  Now I just received word from my colleague, Adrienne Fitch-Frankel that Global Exchange has just released our new and improved Fair Trade curriculum.

I know she has been working hard in partnership with teacher candidates at Evergreen State College's Master in Teacher program to put this together, so the fruits of their labor are ready for the minds of our youth.

It's downloadable!

Features!:

• ready-to-use lesson plans
• inquiry- and experiential-based learning consistent with best practices in teaching
• satisfies state teaching standards in every discipline
• kids learn they have the power to make a global impact AND
• it’s fun! Fair Trade cocoa will stimulate your students’ interest in learning!

The fun doesn't end there. Educators, listen read up.

Teach the curriculum in your classroom anytime between now and Valentine’s Day and you will be entered into a prize drawing to win over $75 worth of Fair Trade chocolate and educational materials!*

Receive real Fair Trade Organic cocoa beans! Teachers who sign up to participate in the National Valentine’s Day of Action will receive cocoa beans to use during the unit….only while our limited supplies last, so sign up soon!**

This weekend, I was a Fair Trade baking machine. It was a long week and sometimes I bake to calm my nerves. My baking adventures are also a way for me to find more Fair Trade ingredients at my grocery store. Luckily, the grocery store closest to my house is big on carrying Fair Trade products, so I was able to make a delicious batch of Fair Trade Chocolate Chip cookies. The Fair Trade products I was able to find were Fair Trade Certified sugar, brown sugar and chocolate chips, while the rest of the ingredients were Certified organic. Nice. This goes well with today's announcement.

Fellow Fair Trade baking/cooking fiends, there currently is a contest going on to come up with the best Holiday recipe that must contain at least ONE Fair Trade ingredient. That's right, the holidays are coming up and it's time test out your cooking/baking prowess and incorporate some social justice into it.

You have until November 17th to submit your recipes to shayna@lowimpactliving.com - that's Shayna (at) Low Impact Living (dot) com. At the end of the contest, all the recipes will be compiled and shared with all and to top it all off, the winner will get a $100 gift basket from BuyWellCoffee.

You think the judges go ahead and try out the recipes themselves and taste test everything? If so, I wouldn't mind being part of the selection committee. November 17th is just around the corner so get the chef hats on and get creative, get fair, get going. Bon apetit.