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Have Yourself a Merry Fair Trade Holiday
The fair-trade system, as we know it today, can trace its roots to 1946 and the compassion of Mennonite Central Committee volunteer Edna Ruth Byler. Byler discovered a talented group of Puerto Rican women living in extreme poverty, despite their skill in creating intricate lace pieces. She began to transport these unique pieces to the United States, selling them and returning the money directly to the groups in Puerto Rico. Her work eventually grew into Ten Thousand Villages, which is now the largest fair-trade retailer in North America. From this humble beginning, the fair-trade system has evolved into a multi-billion dollar group of organizations.
The Fair Trade Federation requires members to “create opportunities for economically and socially disadvantaged producers, develop transparent and accountable relationships, build capacity, promote fair trade, pay promptly and fairly, support safe and empowering work conditions, ensure the rights of children, cultivate environmental stewardship and respect the producer’s cultural identity”. Here in Chattanooga, the selection of fair-trade products is growing. More retailers are offering fair-trade certified goods and the number of products carrying the “fair trade” label is increasing.
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