Fair Trade Blog

The world celebrates fair trade today, May 10th.  More than ever, the world needs the solutions that Fair Trade offers.  Achieving and sustaining a clean environment is one of the benefits of Fair Trade. 

Ecology is this year’s theme.  It’s a natural focus that fits perfectly with the goals of all of us involved in Fair Trade.  From the web home of the World Fair Trade Day:

Fair Trade is a force for protecting the environment while promoting sustainable development. Fair Trade favours the sustainable use of natural resources and production methods that are not capital and oil intensive, favouring hand production and organic agriculture - to reduce the carbon footprint.

Events are happening all over the world, including right here in Viroqua, the town we call home.  Our friends at Kickapoo Coffee are participating in the World Fair Trade Day Coffee Break.  They hope this will be the largest coffee break the world has ever seen as millions sip a cup of Fair Trade brew to honor the accomplishments of the Fair Trade Coffee Industry.  

Fairly traded coffee is still the largest component of Fair Trade business around the world.   We sell our fair share of coffee here at Driftless Fair Traders, along with our teas and other gourmet items.

If you would like to know more about this special day, follow this link to World Fair Trade Day. 

Keep shopping your good values! 

In it’s hey day, the Hotel Fortney was a way stop for tobacco buyers, traveling salesman, bussiness men and any tired soul with the price of a room.  Today, the building houses the working poor, the disabled, the retired, and our store, Driftless Fair Traders.  You can see an historical painting of the old girl here.  

Craig Anderson, Kathi Irwin, and Beatrice Small bought the Viroqua, Wis., building in late 2005, and have been cleaning and renovating the building ever since.  Their mission for the resident space is to provide accomodations for low income people.  

We are pleased that Saint Mary Parish Social Concerns Committee plans to help meet the food needs of the residents. 

One Sunday a month, the committee hopes to arrange for a meal at the Fortney.   In addition, the committee hopes to work with other parish groups to bring excess food to the Fortney, such as from funerals or other parish gatherings.  It’s already happening.  Just this morning four women dropped off food from a parish breakfast.  

There are children and less capable individuals living in the hotel, so I will feel better knowing they are getting wholesome food on a regular basis.   

Keep shopping your good values.

Kile