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TIP: If a story moves you, use the comment feature for that story to write a response. Dialogue is a key to growing the movement!
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Jeff
 Fairtrade America, the new organization representing the Fairtrade International (FLO) system in the U.S., today announced the appointment of Hans P. Theyer as its executive director. Prior to joining Fairtrade America, Hans helped create and run a consulting practice specializing in developing social impact strategies for businesses. He previously served as Executive Director of Agros International, a non-profit organization dedicated to rural poverty alleviation throughout Central America and Mexico. Hans was a leader in Microsoft’s Rural Computing effort, an initiative to empower emerging markets throughout the rural, developing world with access to information and communications technology.
Originally from Chile, Hans holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from London Business School. He has nearly 20 years of experience in business including sales, marketing and business development positions with Microsoft and leading international banking institutions.
More at Fairtrade America post
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Jeff
 To celebrate World Fair Trade Day, Fairtrade America is offering Fair Trade supporters in the United States a chance to win a basket of Fairtrade certified chocolates, coffee, tea, flowers, ice cream, honey and more! Click here to enter the Fairtrade America World Fair Trade Day Prize Drawing.
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Jeff
The Small Producer Symbol (SPP), a certification and labeling system created and run by small Fair Trade producers in Latin America, reports that now 33 small producer organizations are certified under the system and another 16 are in process of getting certified. 11 others have applied for certification.
Also, a new Canadian importer, N. J. Douek & Sons, has joined the list of registered companies and a German buyer is in process of registration.
The system welcomed its sixth certification body, the Colombian certifier Biotrópico. Fair Trade pioneer Equal Exchange recently made its SPP coffee purchases public, which will enable Equal Exchange to launch eight Latin American coffees under the SPP in the course of 2013.
More at Small Producer Symbol
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Jeff
 “Fair Trade, Sustainability and Social Change”, by Ian Hudson, Mark Hudson and Mara Fridell, should be required reading for anyone interested in the strategic direction, challenges and opportunities of Fair Trade and its social movement. Only once every 5-10 years does such a thoughtful book come out about the big picture and major issues in Fair Trade. Although a bit academic at times for the lay reader, the authors present in accessible style critical topics like the pros & cons of various ways actors message about Fair Trade, how Fair Trade compares to other sustainability certifications, and tensions arising as Fair Trade engages large corporations.
More at FTRN review of “Fair Trade, Sustainability and Social Change”
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Jeff
 Enter the World Fair Trade Day 2013 Prize Drawing, organized by Fair Trade Resource Network, to win a large basket of Wholesome Sweetners products. Limit of one entry (email address) per person. Entries accepted up until end of May 19, 2013.
1 winner, to be randomly selected on May 20, 2013, will receive a basket with these products:
2 lb Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Sugar
1 lb Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Sucanat
1 lb Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Powdered Sugar
1.5 lb Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Light Brown Sugar
1.5 lb Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Dark Brown Sugar
1.5 lb Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Raw Cane Sugar
23.5 oz Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Blue Agave
23.5 oz Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Raw Blue Agave
16 oz Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Amber Honey
16 oz Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Raw Honey
16 oz Wholesome Sweeteners Fairtrade Organic Blackstrap Molasses
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Jeff
“Fair Trade Beyond 2015″ campaign seeks to speak with a strong voice for Fair Trade in the global sustainable development framework when the current United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) come to an end.
The list of signatory mayors and supporting civil society organizations will be officially presented to the Brazilian Social Affairs Ministers at the Opening Ceremony of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) Conference on May 27, 2013 in Rio, Brazil. Numerous European and North American mayors have indicated they are going to sign the “Fair Trade Beyond 2015” declaration. The campaign is organized by the European-based Fair Trade Advocacy Office.
More at Fair Trade Beyond 2015 campaign
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Jeff
Fair Trade USA has launched a campaign to highlight Fair Trade Certified during Mother’s Day, with producer stories, recipes, coupons on Fair Trade products, and downloadable images and social media messages. The campaign is also part of World Fair Trade Day outreach in N. America.
More at http://fairtradeusa.org/moms
Campaign organizers can find downloadable materials and suggested social media posts at: http://fairtradeusa.org/resources/campaigns/mothers-day-2013
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Jeff
(Note – this post was corrected on 4-22-13 to report that the new cotton network operates within Fairtrade Africa, not as a 4th regional producer network in the FLO system)
A new producer network, within Fairtrade Africa, has been created by cotton producers from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. They met in Dakar to set up a network which will represent the voice of cotton farmers in the Fairtrade system.
Currently cotton producers in Africa are already being represented by AproCar, the African Cotton Producer Association. The new network will partner with the existing organization, complementing rather than duplicating its efforts to uplift the situation of African cotton farmers.
More at Fairtrade Africa post
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Jeff
When Hershey announced in October 2012 that it would source only certified cocoa by 2020, the company remained vague on which certifications, and on their timeline/benchmarks for achieving this. Now Hershey has published an update, which mentions: “Hershey has already committed to source cocoa through three of the world’s most recognized cocoa certifying organizations: UTZ, Fair Trade USA and Rainforest Alliance.”
The update also states that: “The company has committed to scaling its certified cocoa purchases at the following rate:
- At least 10 percent by the end of 2013
- 40 to 50 percent by the end of 2016
- 100 percent by 2020″
“Raise the Bar, Hershey!” campaign partner Global Exchange blog update
The Hershey Company official update
Fair World Project post
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Jeff
Chapel Hill (NC), La Mesa (CA), Pasadena (CA) and several other new Fair Trade Towns pushed the total declared Fair Trade Towns in the U.S. to 32. In February, Assumption College in Massachusetts became a declared Fair Trade College.
More at Fair Trade Towns & Universities
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