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 Meetings

Norman Fair Trade normally meets weekly or bi-weekly. New meeting schedules are created each semester, so for more detailed information on our current meeting day, time, and location, please join our Facebook fan page (Norman Fair Trade) to see our most up-to-date schedule regarding meetings.

We are always looking for new members, so please join us at a meeting and see how you can help!

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/organize/resources/

Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA)
http://fairtradeusa.org/

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

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

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

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

Global Exchange
http://www.globalexchange.org/

Equal Exchange
http://www.equalexchange.coop/

Fair Trade products near you (updated December 17, 2010)

View Larger Map

Restaurants/ Cafés

Café Plaid (Coffee & tea)

333 W. Boyd Street

The Earth Café and Deli (Coffee & tea)

750 Asp Avenue

Michelangelo's (Tea, coffee)

207 E. Main Street

Stores

Native Roots Market (Bowls, baskets, jewelry, purses, scarves, socks, body care, baking mixes, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, couscous, handicrafts, ice cream, kombucha, olive oil, quinoa, sugar, tea, sports equipment, vanilla extract, molasses, root beer)

132 W. Main Street

Dodson's Nutritional Food Center (Chocolate, cocoa, hot chocolate, coffee, ice cream, root beer, sugar, soap, tea & vanilla extract)

1305 36th Avenue NW

The Earth Natural Foods (Coffee, chocolate, ice cream, soap, tea, molasses, quinoa, chocolate chips)

309 S. Flood

Forward Foods (Coffee, chocolate, ice cream, quinoa, rice, sugar, root beer & tea)

123 E. Main Street

Homeland (Ice cream, root beer, tea, coffee)

1724 W. Lindsey Street

Homeland (Chocolate chips, tea, coffee, ice cream)

1251 Alameda Street

Homeland (Tea, ice cream)

1100 W. Main Street

Homeland (Tea, ice cream, chocolate chips, sugar)

2600 W. Robinson Street

International Pantry (Coffee, chocolate & tea)

1618 W. Lindsey Street

Sam's Club (Baking mixes, coffee & iced coffee)

3400 W. Main Street

Super Target (Coffee, soap, sugar, tea, ice cream)

1400 24th Avenue NW

Walgreens (Soap, ice cream)

100 12th Avenue NE

Walgreens (Soap, ice cream)

615 W. Main Street

Wal-mart (Coffee, ice cream)

333 Interstate Drive

Gift Shops/Specialty Stores

Excavations (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Gift Shop) (Baskets, canvas bags, jewelry, recycled paper/wire art & purses, chocolate)

2401 Chautauqua Avenue

Birdie (T-shirts and jeans)

566 Buchanan Avenue

Stash (Jewelry, baskets, dog collars)

412 E. Main Street

Sandalwood & Sage (Essential oils, incense, incense burners)

322 E. Main Street

Spirits

Cellar Wine and Spirits (Banana bread beer, wine)

555 W. Main Street

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





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 products including coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, rice, flowers, honey and spices (vanilla), body care products, clothing, shoes, and sports equipment 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. Fair Trade USA (formerly known as 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.

On May 11, 2010, Norman became the first official Fair Trade Town in Oklahoma and the 17th in the United States. The campaign started in the fall of 2008 with the aim of promoting Fair Trade in Norman by raising awareness and increasing the availability and demand for Fair Trade products.

Through multiple community events like musical events, tastings, documentary screenings, and even a Fair Trade soccer tournament, the campaign was able to connect with members of the community and grow their team significantly.
A resolution passed by the Norman City Council on Tuesday, May 11 completed the final step to make Norman an official Fair Trade Town. The resolution expresses support for purchasing goods that are produced locally or, if produced abroad, meet Fair Trade standards that focus on improving quality of life for developing country producers, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

To maintain its status as a Fair Trade Town, Norman must continue to meet the following five goals:
- A local Fair Trade steering committee is formed that meets on a regular basis to increase awareness of and demand for Fair Trade products
- A range of Fair Trade products are available in local stores, cafes and other venues.
- 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/governing body passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade and the local campaign and commits to serving Fair Trade coffee and tea at its meetings that normally include coffee and tea.

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.

Norman Fair Trade is excited to be part of this important movement and continues to work hard to maintain its status at the 17th Fair Trade Town in the United States. If you are interested in joining us, please write to info@normanfairtrade.org or visit our Facebook fan page.