Equal Exchange's New Fund raising Program:

Cultivating Global Citizens

Equal Exchange, known for fairly traded coffee, tea and chocolate, is launching a new fundraising and education program for kids. The Equal Exchange Fair Trade Fundraising Program connects children with the farmers who grow their foods, and brings the values and lessons of fair trade into the classroom.

How does the Equal Exchange Fair Trade Fundraiser work? An alternative to conventional fundraisers, Fair Trade fundraising gives children both the profits they need to support their school and the chance to support the farmers whose products they are selling. Groups sell certified fair trade and organic foods, such as delicious chocolate, coffee, tea, pecans and dried cranberries, grown by small-scale farmers around the world and earn 40% profits.

After years of trading with small-scale farmers from other countries, Equal Exchange is excited to begin trading with small-scale U.S. farmers this year under the Fair Trade principles. The new roasted pecans from Georgia and organic dried cranberries from Massachusetts are now available for school fundraisers.

Teaching tools for the classroom will be available this fall, designed to bring to life the benefits of Fair Trade, including micro-loans for women in Guatemala starting indigenous weaving cooperatives, safe drinking water in Dominican Republic and new elementary schools in El Salvador. With Equal Exchange's Fair Trade Fundraising Program, children experience how our daily habits of shopping and eating can make the world a better place.

A pioneer in the Fair Trade movement, Equal Exchange was founded 21 years ago on a mission to build an alternative global food system: one based on respect, fairness to farmers and engaged consumers. Sharing this vision with our food coop partners, Equal Exchange is excited to support the growing number of parents and teachers concerned about how and where their food is grown with the Fair Trade Fundraising Program.

100% of Equal Exchange products are fairly traded, benefiting over 40 small farmer cooperatives in 19 countries around the world. In keeping with its mission, Equal Exchange is a worker cooperative, owned and democratically controlled by its employees.

Contact Kelsie Evans at: fundraising@equalexchange.coop or call (774) 776-7371.