WHO IS FAIR TRADE OAKLAND?
We represent an all-volunteer grassroots organization of local activists, community organizations and socially responsible businesses united in raising the profile of the Fair Trade movement and promoting Fair Trade products within the city of Oakland.



WHAT IS A FAIR TRADE TOWN?
Fair Trade Oakland is a member of Fair Trade Towns USA, a national network of towns, cities, and other municipalities demonstrating their commitment to the principles of Fair Trade.



As a Fair Trade Town, our mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, that foster mutually beneficial relationships between producers and consumers, and that demonstrate the contribution of Fair Trade to a more sustainable world through international commerce.


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Theme by Stijn
August 12th
3:54 PM
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Fair Trade Oakland Celebrates Oakland Retailers and Unveils “Where to Buy” Guide

Fair Trade information and Fair Trade ice cream – what could be better? On Tuesday evening, the Fair Trade Oakland steering committee put on an outreach event at Ben & Jerry’s on the waterfront at Jack London Square. A sizable group of Fair Trade Town supporters came out for some tasty ice cream and the unveiling of Oakland’s “Where to Buy” Guide. Along with the guide, the event was an opportunity to invite Oakland residents to become involved with the campaign. Speakers Billy Linstead-Goldsmith, David Funkhouser and Laura Mitchell engaged the crowd as they discussed Fair Trade’s global impact and the ways in which Oakland can contribute to the Fair Trade movement.  In case you missed the meeting, here’s what went on:

Billy, on a short visit to Oakland all the way from the East Coast, explained the Fair Trade Towns campaigns and their reach across the nation. The Bay Area is at the forefront of the Fair Trade Towns movement, as San Francisco is a Fair Trade City and Berkeley has recently passed a city resolution to become a Fair Trade Town. Congratulations, Berkeley – now it’s time for Oakland to become the Bay Area’s next Fair Trade Town!

After David spoke about Fair Trade Towns, David roused the crowd and told us more about Ben & Jerry’s commitment to Fair Trade. Did you know that Ben & Jerry’s offers over 65 flavors of ice cream? Furthermore, did you know that some of these flavors already contain Fair Trade Certified ingredients, and that Ben & Jerry’s has made a commitment to convert to 100% Fair Trade Certified ingredients by 2013? With each cup, cone, or waffle bowl of delicious Fair Trade Certified ice cream you eat, you are making sure that producers of ingredients like coffee, cocoa, vanilla and sugar are getting a fair wage for their sustainably-produced products!

Finally, TransFair USA intern Laura Mitchell presented our “Where to Buy” Guide for Oakland. The “Where to Buy” Guide highlights merchants and retailers in Oakland who offer at least two Fair Trade Certified products. In order to become a Fair Trade Town, Oakland needs a guide that includes at least 40 merchants, but the purposes of the guide transcend this goal. The guide is meant to direct more business to these merchants, to increase awareness about the campaign and to boost sales of Fair Trade products. From here on out, the guide will be on this webpage, and copies of it will be handed out at Fair Trade Oakland events. Please check it out and support your local Fair Trade-supporting merchants!

Even if you missed this meeting, don’t despair - there are plenty of ways to get involved! Be on the lookout for information about meetings and events on this page, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and please contact us if you want to help the campaign!