Groovefest info booth and raffle a success!

Norman Fair Trade and the OU chapter of the ONE campaign were at Groovefest on Sunday, September 28 from 3:00-9:00 p.m. We met a number of people who wanted to know more about our campaign to make Norman a Fair Trade City and many of them signed up to receive updates on our activities, meetings and events. We also raffled a Fair Trade gift basket consisting of Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, tea, a handcrafted key ring, a t-shirt iron-on and a magnet. We managed to raise enough money to be able to organize a "Fair Trade Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Tasting" next month. Stay tuned for event-specific announcements.

General Meeting

Our weekly meetings are held every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at either Cafe Plaid, 333 W. Boyd St., or Native Roots Market, 132 W. Main St. Please join our facebook group to receive information about our meetings every week.

Norman Fair Trade and ONE at the Groovefest

Norman Fair Trade will be sharing an information booth with the ONE campaign's OU student chapter at the upcoming Groovefest on Sunday, September 28.

About Groovefest:
Groovefest began in 1986 as a musical gathering of Norman locals and has evolved into a forum for human rights awareness and community building. The University of Oklahoma student chapter of Amnesty International became active at Groovefest events and their support has been a valuable asset. Most importantly, Groovefest has always been a community effort and the countless passionate individuals which have volunteered over the years make Groovefest a success. Other local and student organizations have also done their part, including Our Earth, GreenCorn, and the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Every spring and fall, Norman residents and surrounding communities come together to celebrate our freedoms with music and art, but most importantly to raise awareness of Human Rights issues both domestic and international. So come out to the park; sample local cuisine, browse the work of local artisans, enjoy the music of local musicians, and learn something about Human Rights.
Groovefest Home

Fair Trade Month just around the corner

As you know, October is celebrated as Fair Trade Month across
the US. To launch our campaign to make Norman a Fair Trade City, we are planning a number of events including a Fair Trade Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Tasting event and the screening of "Black Gold", which is a documentary about the international coffee trade and its adverse impact on coffee farmers in Ethiopia. Stay tuned for more details.

Norman Fair Trade Facebook group

Join our Facebook group to know more about our meetings and events.

Here's the link.

Fair Trade Resources

The following are some useful online resources on Fair Trade:


The Fair Trade Towns USA website has a detailed list of resources:
http://www.fairtradetownsusa.org/resources.htm

TransFair USA
http://transfairusa.org/

Fair Trade Resource Network
http://www.fairtraderesource.org/links.html


Fair Trade Federation
http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

Fair Trade Labeling Organization
http://www.fairtrade.net/

Alter Eco
http://www.altereco-usa.com/main.php

Fair Trade products near you (updated Nov 29, 2009)

View Larger Map

Click on the balloons to see the addresses on the map.


Cafés

Café Plaid (Coffee & tea)
333 W. Boyd
(405) 360-2233

The Earth Café and Deli (Coffee & tea)
750 Asp Avenue
(405) 573-5933


Redbud Café (Coffee & tea)
2401 Chautauqua Avenue
(405) 325-4712

Forward Foods (Coffee, root beer & tea)
123 E Main Street
(405) 321-1007

Michaelangelo's (Tea)
207 E. Main St.
(405) 579-3387

University of Oklahoma campus locations (Coffee & Tea)
Crossroads, Roscoe’s, Café DNA

Gifts

Excavations (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Gift Shop) (Baskets, canvas bags, jewelery, recycled paper/wire art & purses)
2401 Chautauqua Avenue
(405) 325-4712

Native Roots Market
(Bowls, baskets, jewellery, purses, scarves & socks)
132 West Main Street
(405) 310 6300

Grocery Stores

Dodson's Nutritional Food Center
(Chocolate, cocoa, hot chocolate, coffee, ice cream, root beer, sugar, soap, tea & vanilla extract)
1305 36th Ave Nw
(405) 329-4613

The Earth Natural Foods
(Coffee, chocolate, ice cream, soap & tea)
309 S. Flood
(405) 364-3551

Forward Foods
(Coffee, chocolate, ice cream, quinoa, rice, sugar, root beer & tea)
123 E Main Street
(405) 321-1007


Homeland (Root beer & tea)
1724 W Lindsey Street
(405) 321-7048

International Pantry
(Coffee, chocolate & tea)
1618 W Lindsey Street
(405) 360-0765

Native Roots Market
(Body care, baking mixes, coffee, chocolate, couscous, handicrafts, ice cream, kombucha, olive oil , quinoa, sugar & tea)
132 West Main Street
(405) 310 6300

Sam's Club
(Baking mixes, coffee & iced coffee)
3400 W. Main st.
(405) 307-8374

Super Target
(Coffee, soap, sugar & tea)
1400 24th Ave NW.
(405) 253-3003


Cellar Wine And Spirits (Wine)
555 W Main Street
Norman, OK 73069
(405) 329-9463


This directory was compiled by volunteers of Norman Fair Trade and while all efforts were made to include the most current and accurate information, the availability of listed products is subject to change. Please call the business locations directly for up-to-date information. Please report any errors or omissions at info@normanfairtrade.org

What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade certification is a market-based model of international trade that benefits over one million farmers and farm workers in 58 developing countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Fair Trade certification enables consumers to vote for a better world with their dollars, simply by looking for the Fair Trade Certified label on the products they buy.

Fair Trade Certified agricultural products including coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, rice, flowers, honey and spices (vanilla) are currently available at over 35,000 retail establishments in the U.S.

Fair Trade empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. By guaranteeing minimum floor prices and social premiums, Fair Trade enables producers to invest in their farms and communities and protect the environment. But Fair Trade is much more than a fair price.

Fair Trade principles include:

• Fair prices: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.


• Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.


• Direct trade: Importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to strengthen their organizations and become competitive players in the global economy.


• Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to use their Fair Trade premiums.


• Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like health care, new schools, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.


• Environmental sustainability: The Fair Trade certification system strictly prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), promotes integrated farm management systems that improve soil fertility, and limits the use of harmful agrochemicals in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers' health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

TransFair USA, a non-profit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S.

About us

Norman Fair Trade is an action group dedicated to promoting Fair Trade in Norman, Oklahoma. We aim to raise awareness and increase the availability and demand for Fair Trade products by actively collaborating with local businesses, student organizations, faculty and staff associations, farmers, faith-based organizations, social and environmental justice groups, community leaders and city council members and aspire to make Norman a Fair Trade Town.

Currently, there are thirteen Fair Trade Towns/Cities in the United States and many other cities having similar ongoing campaigns . All of this is being done under the umbrella of the Fair Trade Towns movement.
Fair Trade Towns USA (FTT) is an exciting initiative that brings together businesses, civic and educational institutions, faith-based and community organizations, and individuals throughout the United States to grow the Fair Trade movement and achieve special recognition for communities that value Fair Trade. Fair Trade Towns mobilizes communities to help create a better world by creating a deeper commitment to Fair Trade in their area through civic action, increasing consumer access in stores, and the education of both children and adults about the producers who grow and make the things that we buy.
This effort mirrors the highly successful movement in the United Kingdom, where the first Fair Trade town was recognized in 2000. In the US, there is no single governing body that coordinates or monitors Fair Trade Towns. Rather, towns and cities may publicly declare that they are Fair Trade once they meet five goals set forth by the Fair Trade Towns campaign.

To be recognized as a Fair Trade Town or City in the US, the following goals should be met:
A local Fair Trade steering committee is formed that meets on a regular basis. The aim of the committee is to increase awareness of and demand for Fair Trade products through education, outreach and events.
A range of Fair Trade products are available in local stores, cafes and other venues. These include Fair Trade Certified products and products sold by retailers that are members of the Fair Trade Federation.
Fair Trade products are used by a number of local organizations, such as places of worship, schools, hospitals and offices.
The local campaign attracts media attention and visible public support, including press and radio.
The town or city council passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade and the local campaign.

Through our efforts, Norman is already close to achieving many of the above-mentioned goals and we have confidence that with sustained effort and support from the people of Norman, we will get there soon. If you are interested in joining us, please write to info@normanfairtrade.org