By Cynthia Parkhill
Some people in my hometown of Calistoga seek to have it officially certified as a “fair trade” town.
With so much growing interest in sustainable communities that produce and “shop local” first, I view “fair trade” as a complimentary effort to invest in local communities.
“Shop local” is most strongly empowered in the area of food. Locavores try to eat food that was produced within a certain-mile radius. Thanks to resources like the Lake County Community Co-op”s buyers” club, www.lakeco-op.org/, and Lake County”s “virtual” farmer”s market at www.lakecountygrown.com, Lake County residents can purchase their food directly from Lake County suppliers.
Locally-produced wines are increasingly on the shelves at area supermarkets. There are also a growing number of suppliers for fresh baked breads and pastries.
Shop, Stay and Play, which is a campaign of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes a commitment to shop first at Lake County businesses. The idea is that money stays in our community when we buy products created locally and sold at a locally-owned business.
In spite of efforts to shop local first, Lake County residents must often rely upon products and services that are not produced locally. Many of these goods are produced overseas and more and more services are outsourced.
While I would prefer first and foremost that these jobs be brought home, I appreciate that fair trade puts money in the hands of producers instead of in the hands of corporations that choose to export jobs.
According to Fair Trade Towns USA, its campaign is based upon principles and guidelines set forth by Fairtrade towns in the U.K., where the Garstang, Lancashire city council voted to declare Garstang the “world”s first fair trade town.” Since then, more than 800 communities “have worked to promote fair trade, increase sales of fair trade products and ensure more farmers in developing countries get a fair deal.”
In Calistoga, supporters want to petition the Calistoga City Council to pass a fair trade resolution.
Among specific objectives stated in the Fair Trade Town USA toolkit, there should be at least one business selling a minimum of two fair trade products for every 2,000 residents in a town of 10,000 or less.
Some of the ways in which organizers are able to track their progress are to create where-to-buy lists and maps. In order to qualify, a business must carry at least two fair trade products.
When money stays in the hands of the producers/providers, there is greater economic benefit.
Fair trade provides opportunities for people to lift themselves out of poverty by being paid for their products and labor.
It also imposes a set of requirements that ensure certain standards: “to protect the environment, build economic sustainability, empower women and allow opportunities for education, poverty alleviation and health care.”
With both “shop local” and fair trade, there is an investment in sustainable communities.
I think that idea is worth promoting both at home and abroad.
To learn more about certification as a fair trade town, visit www.fairtradetownsusa.org/. For more information about Shop, Stay and Play, visit www.shopstayplay.com/.
Cynthia Parkhill is Focus publications and Web editor for Lake County Publishing. Contact her at RBinFocus@gmail.com or call her at 263-5636, ext. 39.
