fair trade Archives | Community Food Co-op

Tony’s Chocolonely

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

The new kid on the block is Tony’s Chocolonely. We’re excited about introducing it to our stores for several reasons.

Love chocolate? Yep, that is a rhetorical question for most of us, because … chocolate!

If you’ve perused the options in the chocolate aisle lately, you may have noticed the new, bright wrappers in bold primary colors that are jazzing things up.

The new kid on the block is Tony’s Chocolonely. We’re excited about introducing it to our stores for several reasons.

First, it’s delicious! Second, the bars are satisfyingly big, weighing in at a hefty six ounces per bar. Third, and certainly not least, it is 100 percent slave free and fair trade. Since 2012, Tony’s has been buying cocoa directly from two farming co-ops in West Africa, guaranteeing the farmers benefit from fair prices and financial stability and guaranteeing bean-to-bar traceability for Tony’s.

Tony’s Chocolonely was conceived after Dutch investigative reporter Teun van de Keuken (Tony, in English) learned of the preponderance of child slave labor in the chocolate industry and the widespread indifference of chocolate makers to the abuse. So, he started Tony’s Chocolonely and introduced his first “lonely” fair trade chocolate bars in 2005. Lonely, because they were the only slave-free option on the shelf.

Ten years later, the small but mighty company celebrated with a grand anniFAIRsary! You can watch a video of the event on the Tony’s Chocolonely website in the “about us” tab. And, while you are there, you can also learn much more about the fabulosity that is Tony’s Chocolonely.

By the way, the next anniFAIRsary party will be in November, so if you’re looking for a fun event in Amsterdam you should check it out!

Learn more at tonyschocolonely.com.

South of the Border

by Dave Sands, Produce Team

Dave Sands and Primo in Divine Flavor greenhouse

Dave Sands with greenhouse manager Primo at Divine Flavor in Hermosillo.

When the fields up here in the north slow down during our cold season, it’s nice to know our neighbors to the south have our backs.

Last March, I had the opportunity to visit several certified organic and fair trade certified farms in the state of Sonora in Mexico. I was impressed and inspired with the overall quality of these operations and the way they treat their workers. I saw firsthand the positive result of fair trade premiums in the communities near the farms—child care facilities, a tortilla factory and mini mart that sells to farm workers at cost, a full-service dental and medical facility, and even a few soccer fields—all paid for by fair trade premiums.

Well, what is fair trade anyway? According to the Fairtrade USA website: “Fair Trade Certified products were made with respect to people and planet. Rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards work to promote safe, healthy working conditions; protect the environment; enable transparency; and empower communities to build strong, thriving businesses. When you choose products with the Fair Trade label, your day-to-day purchases can improve an entire community’s day-to-day lives.”

During the winter months many of our vegetables, like cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes, come from Mexico and we choose to look for Fair Trade certified product when possible. Typically these run a few more cents per pound in cost to us. These few cents per pound really add up when we are talking truckloads going to stores all over the U.S. that choose fair trade.

Organic Brussels sprouts at Covilli Brand Organics in Empalme.

Many of the farming areas we visited in Mexico are home to large seasonal migrant populations, despite a lack of existing infrastructure. We saw some of the ways in which fair trade premiums contribute to the quality of life for these workers and communities.

We sell the certified organic vegetables that these farmers pick, and have always been impressed with the quality.

At the Divine Flavor grape orchards, dorms are being remodeled to provide more space per person per room. Near the town of Guaymas, the workers at Covilli Organics were close to finalizing plans to build a play area for their children. Wholesum Harvest near Hermosillo showed us the area where they are dividing tracts of land to offer housing to returning workers, so they may own their own piece of land within walking distance to work, the soccer field, and the at-cost tortilla factory and mini mart.

We sell the certified organic vegetables that these farmers pick, and have always been impressed with the quality. It was an honor to enrich my perspective and see the whole supply chain in person.

As impressive as the commitment to the social and economic side of things is, the commitment to growing clean, certified organic products was also great to see. These farms were spotless and used very modern growing methods that take care of the land and the water source.

The more acreage that gets converted to organic farming in Mexico, the better. That’s why we support our farm partners in Mexico and wish them all the success in the world.

tour group wearing white overshirts, hairnets, and shoe covers

Dave’s tour group suited up as per requirements to enter the On the Vine tomato and English cucumber growing rooms at Wholesum Harvest.

B the Change

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

Learn more about certified B Corporations and how they use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

The Co-op is happy for the opportunity to work with like-minded businesses that believe we can all do good, while doing well. Now we have a reliable mechanism to identify these businesses thanks to Certified
B Corporations—a global movement of people using business as a force for good.™

Certified B Corporations—a global movement of people using business as a force for good

The Co-op is happy for the opportunity to work with like-minded businesses that believe we can all do good, while doing well. Now we have a reliable mechanism to identify these businesses thanks to Certified B Corporations—a global movement of people using business as a force for good.™

Certified B Corporations meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

They aspire to B the Change and use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

There are more than 1,500 Certified B Corporations in over 120 industries and 40 countries with one unifying goal—to redefine success in business.

Many of the products carried in our stores are from Certified B Corporations and when you choose to purchase products from these companies, you, too, can B the Change!

You can support B Corporations by looking for the Certified B Corporation seal on products throughout our stores—familiar names like Dr. Bronner’s, Seventh Generation, Runa, Klean Kanteen, and so many more, and including a few of our favorite recently B Corp certified local businesses.

Thank you for B-ing the Change by shopping at the Co-op!

Do we have local B Corp companies? Totally!

Moon Valley Organics in Deming, started in 1998, has stayed true to its passion of living ethically and sustainably. Moon Valley’s body care products are developed with the intention to nourish and heal your body, mind, and spirit, as well as to care for the Earth. The products contain sustainable, organic material, and packing is chosen that does the least harm and is recyclable and renewable. Moon Valley is growing to include national distribution while maintaining their connections with local businesses like the Co-op.

Aslan Brewing Company in Bellingham is a sustainable microbrewery and restaurant exclusively brewing 100 percent USDA Certified Organic beer. Community outreach is of one Aslan’s key pillars. By staying connected with local nonprofits and community organizations, Aslan bolsters its contribution to social and environmental well-being. The brewpub is a community hub and frequently hosts fundraisers and events for local campaigns and organizations, making it more than just a beer-centric eatery.

brenthaven, b corp, certified b corporation, seattle, zero impact

Brenthaven, now headquartered in Seattle but established (and much beloved) in Bellingham, has a mission to achieve Zero Impact™ on the environment without compromising the quality and integrity of its products. The business accomplishes this in three ways:
• crafting products that last a lifetime, and standing behind them with a lifetime guarantee
• reducing impacts by a change in packaging strategy that eliminated the use of over 100,000 boxes per year
• offsetting its carbon footprint through investments in carbon credits and donations to green charities

What Other B Corp stuff do we carry?

Grocery
Alter Eco, Beanfields, Dang Foods, Essential Living Foods, Guayaki, Happy Family Brands, King Arthur Flour, Manitoba Harvest, Organic India, Plum Organics, Runa, Tanka

Supplements and body care
Dr. Bronner’s, Dr. Hauschka, EO Products, Essential Living Foods, Garden of Life, Manitoba Harvest, Moon Valley Organics, New Chapter, Nubian Heritage, Organic India, Preserve, Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, Topricin, W.S. Badger

Frozen and Refrigerated
Hilary’s Eat Well, Tofurky

Household Products
Chico Bags, Ecover, Klean Kanteen, Method, Preserve, Seventh Generation, The Honest Company, World Centric

Find more B Corp products throughout the store by looking for the B Corp logo.

Fair Trade and Dr. Bronner’s

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

dr bronner, fair trade, dr. bronner's, all one, world fair trade day,

Dr. Bronner, pictured holding a bottle of the company's most recognizable product—liquid castile soap—with the iconic "ALL-ONE" label. Follow a timeline tracing the history of Dr. Bronner’s at its website, or watch the fascinating 2006 documentary film, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox, to learn about the compelling family history behind the company.

In the April 2016 Co-op News, we had the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the many B Corp-certified businesses we work with, including local B Corps Aslan Brewing Company and Moon Valley Organics.

In May, it is time for fair trade businesses to take their deserved turn in the spotlight. The 2016 celebration of World Fair Trade Day on May 14 will be centered on the theme “Be an Agent for Change.” That might sound familiar, since the B Corp tagline is “B the Change.” Once again proving that great minds think alike!

There is a lot to celebrate about businesses that are dedicated to fair trade practices.

Fair trade is a tangible solution to poverty eradication, a good tool for sustainable development, and most of all, fair trade promotes social justice.

One of our favorite fair trade companies is Dr. Bronner’s, not surprisingly it is also B Corp certified.

Most Co-op shoppers are familiar with Dr. Bronner’s products; from its iconic Castile Liquid Soap—with the even more iconic original blue “ALL-ONE” label—to its newest foray into organic virgin coconut oil.

Dr. Bronner’s shares a lot of interesting insights on its website about its ethical sourcing practices. For instance, the coconuts used in Dr. Bronner’s products are ethically sourced from Sri Lanka and Kenya. And the coconuts specifically used in the food grade virgin coconut oils are sourced from the sustainable Serendipol project in Sri Lanka.

Serendipol originally grew out of a relief project established after 30,000 people in Sri Lanka lost their lives in a 2004 tsunami.

Built, owned, and operated by Dr. Bronner’s, and local partners, Serendipol has become the world’s foremost source of certified fair trade and organic virgin coconut oil.

Workers at Serendipol in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Bronner’s factory in Kuliyapitiya supports the livelihoods of more than 750 organic farmers and 275 staff members, and has a major impact on local community development. It pays fair prices to farmers and supports them with organic inputs and organic agriculture training, which improves soil quality, yields, and profitability. Mill workers enjoy working conditions and compensation uncommon in the industry, and in an area that has few reliable jobs to offer to its growing rural population.

The fair trade premium paid by Dr. Bronner’s and other customers for Serendipol coconut oil is used for a range of community development projects, such as setting up a composting operation to support farmers with organic fertilizer at cost, supporting several regional clinics with critical equipment, renovating schools and supporting vocational training, connecting remote villages to the power grid, and renovating bridges.

Serendipol has proven that producing organic virgin coconut oil can be sustainable and fair, while supporting rural development in a significant way. So the next time you purchase a jar of Dr. Bronner’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, rest assured that every person along the entire supply line for that product has been fairly compensated for their work.

Learn more about all of Dr. Bronner’s products, ethical sourcing, and the company’s positive impact around the world at drbronner.com.

dr. bronners, serendipol, fair trade, workers

Workers at Serendipol in Sri Lanka gathering coconuts

A model for other projects worldwide, Serendipol exemplifies a fair trade supply chain from root to fruit.

“To the customer, it’s a reliable source, fair pricing and fair terms. To the employee, it’s good working conditions, regular work, fair wages, health and safety. To the farmer, it’s fair payment terms, fair price for their lands, and transparency.” –Sonali Pandithasekera, Chief Financial Officer of Serendipol.

Photos courtesy Dr. Bronner’s.

An interesting by-product of this process is the production of nigari, also called bittern. Nigari is used as a coagulant in the making of tofu, and the salt farm sells it to people who want to make their own homemade tofu. Who knew?

After careful monitoring to achieve the preferred moisture content, San Juan Island Sea Salt is ground to a consistency similar to fleur de sel. The irregular crystal size, lots of minerality, and a slight moisture content make it ideal as a finishing salt to sprinkle atop your baked goods, meats, vegetables, chocolates and caramels, egg dishes, or pretty much anything that would benefit from a pinch of salt. Of course, you can also use San Juan Island Sea Salt in recipes, just like any common salt.

Due to a combination of the trace minerals in the salt and our wet climate (and steamy kitchens), it’s completely natural if your San Juan Island Sea Salt gets a tiny bit clumpy. When needed, just give the jar a quick whack to loosen and sprinkle on the salty riches of the sea.

About World Fair Trade Day

World Fair Trade Day falls on the second Saturday of May of each year. It is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty and exploitation, climate change, and the economic crises that have the greatest impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations. Trade must benefit the most vulnerable and deliver sustainable livelihoods by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers. Millions of producers and traders, businesses and policy-makers, supporting organizations and volunteers have contributed to the substantial growth of Fair Trade globally.

Sustainability: It’s What We Do Every Day at the Co-op

by Melissa Elkins, Sustainability Coordinator

$30 MILLION

After adding staff wages and local service contracts and applying the local multiplier effect, shopping at the Co-op kept more than $30 million circulating in our local economy in 2015.

14.3 PERCENT

We focused even more on local and Washington state suppliers in 2015, purchasing a whopping 14.3 percent of our products from producers in our region.

31%

Co-op staff use alternative transportation for 31% of their total commuting miles.

Our electric car chargers at the Cordata store made 1,522 electric car charges—displacing 1,193 gallons of fuel.

92%

We diverted 92 percent of our total waste from the landfill.

When it comes to sustainability, we're proud to be a community (and national!) leader.

Connection to community is something that has always attracted people to Bellingham—we are lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, in my opinion, and a vast number of us care deeply about our city for myriad reasons. The Co-op itself is a direct reflection of our community, as its values and business practices have always been shaped specifically by those who live and work in Whatcom County. To that end, sustainability isn’t something that requires any special consideration in our organization—it is so ingrained in our structure that we live those values every day.

At the Co-op, local isn’t a buzzword, it’s an important part of the framework that makes us who we are.

We have come to realize the value of sharing those practices, so we are proud to say that our third annual sustainability report was published in June for fiscal year 2015. It requires the collection of data that encompasses our entire scope of business—from labor practices to purchasing practices and from resource use to education. The collected data is compiled into an extensive report detailing our successes and areas for improvement.

Following are just a few highlights from 2015:

Cordata store became LEED certified in June 2015
LED lighting was installed throughout the Cordata store and Downtown bakery cafe
We started purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset 100 percent of our electricity use organization wide in June 2015
As a result, we were named as a member of the EPA Green Power Leadership Club, one of only about 400 businesses in the entire country
We eliminated plastic packaging from our deli counters in December 2015, which we expect will remove over 25,000 plastic containers from the local waste stream in 2016
We carried 587 fairly traded items. Co-op shoppers can feel good knowing that the people who work hard to produce these products are being treated fairly. Look for fair trade items in our grocery, wellness, and produce departments.
We joined the Domestic Fair Trade Association—currently, we are the only retail business in the DFTA north of Seattle.

We track these numbers so we can work to improve. Every year we set the bar, then we work to raise it.

Read the complete report at
www.communityfood.coop/learn/co-op-sustainability.

Tony’s Chocolonely

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

South of the Border

by Dave Sands, Produce Team

B the Change

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

Do we have local B Corp companies? Totally!

What Other B Corp stuff do we carry?

Fair Trade and Dr. Bronner’s

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

About World Fair Trade Day

Sustainability: It’s What We Do Every Day at the Co-op

by Melissa Elkins, Sustainability Coordinator

$30 MILLION

14.3 PERCENT

31%

92%

Sun Protection That Is Good for You and the Environment

Is Your Toilet Paper Destroying the Environment?

Helping Salmon and Orcas in the Salish Sea

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