fair trade

What Does it Mean to be Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is popping up a lot on chocolate, coffee, and my favorite coconut oil! So, what does it mean and why is everyone so drawn to it? When a company is Fair Trade Certified, transparent sourcing methods are put in place, including higher wages, to provide better living and working conditions in countries where the raw material is harvested. In Kelapo’s case, being certified is especially important because coconuts cannot be harvested here in the United States. When we talk about Fair Trade, “worth” and “price” often come up. Could you pay more for a Fair Trade item, perhaps. […]

Leave a comment

Fair Trade Month

Every October we celebrate Fair Trade month along with all the other manufacturers and retailers who offer Fair Trade products. When we exhibited at Expo East in Baltimore last month, unbeknownst to us, two of our booth neighbors were also displaying Fair Trade certified products. It was a little corner of Fair Trade products, with Theo Chocolate, Runa Tea, and Kelapo Coconut Oil! Take time today to look through pictures of our actual farmers that are part of the Fair Trade project in Sri Lanka. And remember, when you use coconut oil, where is the oil being sourced from? Kelapo […]

1 Comment

Be an Active Member of Your Food Community

When I talk about the benefits of food, I usually focus on things like nutrition, convenience, and price—things that directly affect you.  But there are many more people affected by food than simply the person who eats it.  And the things that benefit us personally may come at the expense of the workers and the environment that make it all possible.  Buying while being mindful of fair wages, sustainability, and environmental issues makes the processes less like a transaction and more like a community, which ultimately benefits us all.  From the global to the local scale, there are many ways […]

Leave a comment