So many decisions, so little time
You’re not imaging it—there are more options than ever before. Decision making can be exhausting. It’s hard enough to determine what is in your food, let alone the back story of who made it and how it affected the environment along the way. That’s why we like to think LOFTy. It’s a simple way to prioritize the people and places behind your food.
Look locally—think farmer’s market, local grocer or small business. Extra points if it is produced organically! When you can’t support local farmers, think of Fairtrade as your global farmer’s market. (Remember that the majority of Fairtrade certified products—think coffee, tea and cocoa—are not produced in the US, so there are no local options.)
What LOFTy means
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1Local
In the past 10 years, the number of farmer’s markets across the US has grown from 3,700 to more than 8,200. Many grocery stores now mark products that are sourced from nearby farms and companies.
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2Organic
According to the Organic Trade Association, demand for organic products has grown by double-digits nearly every year since the 1990s, reflecting consumers’ desire for quality products that are good for the land.
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3Fairtrade
With 37,000+ products sold in more than 100 countries, the Fairtrade Mark continues to be the most recognized ethical label. Any product carrying it meets rigorous social, economic and environmental criteria set by Fairtrade International and monitored by an independent certifier.
Shared values
Ultimately, the local, organic and fair trade movements all share a similar vision—getting consumers and producers to think not just about what they purchase and produce, but how products come to us. These shared values include a desire to: implement sustainable farming practices, avoid large corporate intermediaries, know who grew the food, a connectedness or transparency and buy directly, or at least more directly to get more of the purchase price back to the farmer.
Some ways you can help are with bananas, chocolate, coffee and clothes which are four of my favorite things. Looking for the Fairtrade symbol on those items is really helpful.
Lex Daddio, @restoring_radiance
Invest in our collective future
It is possible to meet your needs today without sacrificing our future. By choosing Fairtrade, you are shaping trade with people and the planet in mind.
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