According to the Seattle Times, is now known as Fairtrade International began in 1985 with a Dutch missionary priest and his friend, who worked in trade. According to the Times article,
Fairtrade International still uses their model, paying farmers premiums totaling $164 million from 2007 to 2010. It estimates 1.15 million farmers and workers were in the system in 2010.
With the ability to find baskets, jewelry, home goods, clothing, art, toys and gifts, not to mention coffee and chocolate, here are some of our favorite places for purchasing Fair Trade items.
Fair Trade Winds
1815 N. 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
206.743.8500
http://www.fairtradewinds.net
Winner of Seattle Magazine’s 2011 Readers’ Choice for Best New Boutique, Fair Trade Winds is a family-run retail store providing certified fair trade and environmentally sustainable products supporting artisans, farmers, and craftspeople from around the world. Located at the Wallingford Center, Fair Trade Winds is also available to sell their fair trade products at events and fairs. Email info@fairtradewinds.net for more information.
Ten Thousand Villages
6417 Roosevelt Way N.E. Suite 101
Seattle, WA 98115
206.524.9223
http://www.seattle.tenthousandvillages.com
Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across the globe. Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in some 38 countries. As one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages has spent more than 60 years cultivating trading relationships in which artisans receive a fair price for their work and consumers have access to distinctive handcrafted items.
Theo Chocolate
3400 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
206.632.5100
http://www.theochocolate.com
Theo produces premium organic and Fair Trade specialty chocolate. Theo’s founder, Joseph Whinney, pioneered the supply of organic cocoa beans into the United States in 1994. Joe always dreamt of building the first organic chocolate factory in the US, as prior to Theo’s inaugural chocolate run in March of 2006, all organic chocolate was manufactured in Europe and imported into the US market. As the first and only organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the country, located in Fremont, all of Theo’s ingredients are carefully screened to ensure they meet Theo’s standards for social and environmental responsibility.
Hands of the World
1501 Pike Place #428
Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.handsoftheworld.com
Down the ramp from City Fish, at the base of Pine Street in the historic Pike Place Market, you will find Hands of the World. Inside, you’ll discover hand selected, exotic Folk Art, Jewelry and Accessories from many countries. Handcrafted finger cymbals from India, Sri Lankan stuffed animals, and Zulugrass necklaces from Africa. The store, in business for 26 years, does extensive work with women’s co-ops. A wide range of fair trade accessories, from handbags to scarves, as well as authentic African folk art are also sold here.
Caffé Vita
1005 E. Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122 ·
206.709.4440 or 888.223.VITA
http://www.caffevita.com
A Washington State-certified Organic Roaster, Caffé Vita purchases fair-trade coffees directly through their importers at or above fair trade and market prices. Caffé believes promoting coffee quality in production is a benefit you can taste in the cup; farmers are able to get a higher price for their product on the market and workers receive a better wage. The original Caffé Vita began at the base of Queen Anne in 1995. They have since added six cafes and a roasterie around the Sound and in Portland, OR.
