October is Fair Trade month, and that has the Peace Coffee crew especially jazzed to deliver our Fair Trade message. Fair Trade is not only about building community with farmers in the coffee producing lands, it's also about embracing an ideal of doing business fairly that starts in our own communities. So, as the crew goes forth this month and in the coming months to let folks know about Peace Coffee, think about how you yourself can spread the Fair Trade message — with your family, your friends and neighbors, at your workplace, in your school or church. It could be as simple as giving Peace Coffee or Peace Gear as holiday gifts or as elaborate as organizing a Fair Trade fundraising project (the Fair Trade Resource List in this issue may spark some ideas). It all starts with a commitment to community. Together, we can truly make a difference!

In this month's Fair Grounds, we introduce a fundraising effort — the Santa Anita Relief Fund — to help the good folks of southwest Guatemala's Santa Anita community bring in this year's harvest. We also offer a piece on the Minnesota Fair Trade Association's recent event at Global Market, a Roaster's Corner from Derek De La Paz and a new recipe. Settle back with a steaming mug of Peace Coffee and enjoy...

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One of the most elevating aspects of Fair Trade is the opportunity it provides for those of us in the US to develop close personal relationships with our producer partners and their communities throughout the world’s coffee lands. From time to time we are called on to take action and leverage our society’s abundant resources on behalf of our producer partners who find themselves in particularly dire circumstances.

Twelve months ago, Hurricane Stan ravaged southwest Guatemala (insert hyperlink to last October’s article on the hurricane), including the community of La Asociación Maya de Pequeños Agricultores in Santa Anita la Unión, a small coffee producer cooperative and community comprised of 38 families. Their subsistence-level livelihood depends primarily on their coffee production. Unfortunately, Hurricane Stan not only wiped out 25,000 of the 35,000 new coffee plants planted by the community, it also reduced the community’s coffee yield by more than 50%, leaving its members with neither sufficient income to meet their basic needs nor the resources they need to harvest this year’s crop.

During his visit to Minneapolis last week, the community’s director of commercialization Rigoberto A. Ramirez, explained the nature of the community’s current financial crisis. He also articulated his community’s unwavering commitment to the concept of Fair Trade and determination to overcome their present circumstances no matter the sacrifice he and his fellow coffee producers have to make.

Read more...

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Last weekend the Minnesota Fair Trade Association hosted a day long Fair Trade event at the Global Market that began with a bike ride and continued on with music, speakers, food and a fashion show. The event was lots of fun and a huge success in raising awareness for fair trade and showcasing the diverseness of Fair Trade goods available in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Fair Trade Association formed in order to increase the number of businesses committed to the principles of Fair Trade* thus increasing the number of goods and services available to consumers. This vision brings us closer to our sustainability goals for producers and all Minnesotans. The Minnesota Fair Trade Association is a non-profit group consisting of local Minnesota businesses, non-profits, and consumers committed to Fair Trade principles.

You Can Help Too!

Become Educated -- Learn how Fair Trade Benefits everyone from the producer to the consumer.

Tell a Friend -- Great news travels fast. Help spread the word about Fair Trade.

Buy Fair Trade Products -- Consumer power is one of the most influential powers each and every one of us has. Our purchasing decisions really matter and they can make a difference.

Get Involved -- There are many ways to get involved with Fair Trade. Contact the Minnesota Fair Trade Association (at the email address below) and they'll let you know how to:

• become a member of the MNFTA
• volunteer with the MNFTA
• get involved in the Adopt a Super Market Campaign
• ask store managers if the carry Fair Trade Products and if not, ask them why?
• tell them about your experience with Fair Trade
• send them recipes using Fair Trade Foods

Contact MNFTA Co-Chair Tiffany Tompkins, tiffany@eticafairtrade.com to find out more about upcoming meetings and events!

*Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, seeks to gather equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to marginalized producers and workers. Fair Trade organizations, backed by consumers, support producers, increase public awareness on the standards of Fair Trade, and campaign for changes to the rules and practices of conventional trade.

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In honor of Fair Trade Month, and in the spirit of supporting, promoting and celebrating a socially responsible system of trade, we offer this list of Fair Trade organizations and resources. Some are global, some are national, and some are local -- right here in the Twin Cities area. All play a part in educating, organizing, and building the movement and market for Fair Trade.

Organizations That Promote Fair Trade

Fair Trade Federation
US based organization of Fair Trade groups.
1612 K Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006
202-872-5329
www.fairtradefederation.org

Fair Trade Resource Network
Raises consumer awareness about improving people's lives through Fair Trade alternatives.
PO Box 33772
Washington, DC 20033-3772
Phone: 202.302.0976

Co-op America
Provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to address today's social and environmental problems
1612 K Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
(800)58-GREEN / (202)872-5307
www.coopamerica.org

Local Fair Trade Network
Advocating for fair trade in local agriculture
2105 First Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 879-7560
www.localfairtrade.org

For more information, as well as resources for Fair Trade shopping, read on...

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"In every community there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it."

-- Marianne Williamson

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• September 2006 The Hike: Another Peace Coffee Adventure by Ryan Seibold, Peace Coffee Production Roaster, Coming to a Theatre Near You!: Black Gold.
• August 2006 One Brick at a Time by Beth Backen, Shipping and Receiving Coordinator, Sitting On Top of the World by Nate Stevens, Customer Accounts Representative, The Long Haul to the Green Man by Ryan Seibold, Eco Experience at the State Fair, Howdy. I'm Keith, The New Head Roaster.
• July 2006 Bike Film Festival Rolls Into Minneapolis, Biofuels or Bust by Jim Kleinschmit and Mark Smith, Oxfam Red Cards Adidas
• June 2006 Travels With Habitat in Guatemala by Andy Lambert, Finding Balance in East Timor by Anna Canning, New Peace Coffee Beer: MJDBA, Customer Spotlight: Jay's Café by Melanee Meegan.
• May 2006 Gardening Grounds by Nathan Steigman, Peace Coffee Builds With Habitat, Bike Map Adds New Spin to Art-A-Whirl
• April 2006 Discovering Fair Trade in Guatemala by Keith Tomlinson, Travel Notes from Sumatra, Indonesia by Jamie Schumacher, Birchwood Café Celebrates Earth Day, Birch Clothing Plants Trees, Donates $$
• March 2006 The Scent of Sumatra by Anna Canning, On the Road at The USFT Convergence by Andy Lambert, Happy 20th! A Big Year for IATP
• February 2006 Tsunami Goal Reached, Fair Trade Fashion Debuts in Hong Kong by Patricia Jurewicz, Senior Associate, Trade and Global Governance at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, The Red Bull Sky Ride, Cool Opportunities Sustainable Energy in Motion Bike Tour
• January 2006 Peace Coffee and Fair Trade Gain Ground by Scott Patterson, Coffee Flavored Beers Grow in Popularity by Andy Lambert, 10 Good Things About Another Bad Year by Medea Benjamin, Director of Global Exchange & Co-Founder of Code Pink 
• December 2005 Make Peace, Not War, Students Help Grow the Fair Trade Movement by Andy Lambert, Catching Up With the Crew, Think Tank Going to WTO Ministerial
• December 2005 Make Peace, Not War, Students Help Grow the Fair Trade Movement by Andy Lambert, Catching Up With the Crew, Think Tank Going to WTO Ministerial
• November 2005 Hurricane Stan Causes Much Devastation by Jeronimo Bollen of Manos Campesinas, On the Road With Brad...Continued, Winter Biking Tips from Hub Bike Co-op, Show Your Peace Coffee Pride and Win!, Customer Spotlight: Peaceful Valley Greetings, Meet the Queen Bee (and Worker Bees) by Andy Lambert
• October 2005 Coop Coffees Meets in Guatemala by Tripp Pomeroy, Peace Coffee Bike Team Season Wrap-up by Ton Tran, Peace Coffee Bike Grinder, Catching Up With the Crew, Peace Gear: Spiffy Socks
• September 2005 Green Beans Lost in Katrina's Wake by Scott Patterson, The Revolution Will Not Be Motorized by Andy Lambert, The Joy of Stovetop Espresso Machines by Melanee Meegan, The Wanderlust Returns By Brad the Intrepid Bean Pedaler
• August 2005 A New Buzz...Chain Saw Art, The Valley of the Giant Green Man by Andy Lambert, Peace Coffee Events and Demo Guy, The Annual Milk Carton Boat Race by Melanee Meegan, Peace Coffee Marketing Manager
• July 2005 Pedal Power: Peace Coffee Bike Team, FT Futures: Living a Fair Trade Life, CAFTA Is Not Done: A Call to Action
• June 2005 Extraordinary Ethiopia by Melanee Meegan, Peace Coffee Marketing & Advertising Coordinator, Peace Coffee's 2nd Annual Open House, Aceh Tsunami Relief Fund Update PPKGO, ForesTrade and CV Trimaju, Batter Up! by Monika Firl, Coop Coffees
• May 2005 Fair Trade in Seattle by Scott Patterson, Brad's Nicaragua Journal by Brad the Bike Messenger
• April 2005 Fair Trade Travels and Other Adventures, Nicaragua Trip Brings Fair Trade to Life by Anneka Kmiecik, Birchwood Café, Fair Trade in a Volatile Market by Bill Harris, Cooperative Coffees
• March 2005 Andy's Chiapas Journal (part two) by Andy Lambert, Converging For Fair Trade
• February 2005 Update On The Aceh Fund, Return To Chiapas (part one) by Andy Lambert, In Praise Of Hot Chocolate by Rachel Hiltsley
• January 2005 Tragedy's Wake: Update From Sumatra, How I Spent My Floating Holiday by Brad the Bike Messenger, A Coffee Science Experiment by Rachel Hiltsley, Resident Equipment Expert
• December 2004 Great Coffee the French Press Way, The Best Coffee in Town, Coffee+Beer=Friggin' Good. eh? 
• November 2004 My Other Bike is a Biodiesel, Biodiesel: It's What's Inside
• October 2004 A Peaceful Alternative to Petroleum, Don't Just Do It. Do It With Justice 
• September 2004 Santa Anita de la Union, The Beauty of the St. Paul Classic
• August 2004 Crema Café: Home of Sonny's Ice Cream,
• July 2004 Exploring Our Origins: Ethiopia
• June 2004 Journey through the Life of a Bean
• May 2004 Report from Colombia and Brad 's Big Bike Adventure
• April 2004 Nicaragua: Coffee and the Community at CECOCAFEN
• March 2004 Fair Trade Friends: United Students for Fair Trade
• February 2004 Mut Vitz and APECAFORMM Trip Reports
• January 2004 10 Good Things about a Bad Year
• December 2003 Global Exchange Fair Trade Challenge
• November 2003 Barriers to Fair Trade: NAFTA on Steroids
• October 2003 Dia de Los Muertos
• September 2003 Report from Cancun: Victory for Fair Trade
• August 2003 Fair Trade Friends: Oxfam America
• July 2003 Exploring Our Origins: Sumatra

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Fair Grounds is produced by:
Peace Coffee

Contact Information:

Orders and General Information
Phone - 612.870.3440 or 1.888.324.7872 
Fax - 612-677-3989
E-Mail - info@peacecoffee.com
Web - http://www.peacecoffee.com

Peace Coffee Crew*:
Beth Backen
Anna Canning
Derek De La Paz
Tom Hudson
Nick Johnson 
Andy Lambert
Melanee Meegan 
Scott Patterson
Ryan Seibold
Nate Stevens 
Keith Tomlinson

*We work together to get the coffee out to our customers. Although we have specific job titles, we all take turns switching roles and putting in time where it's needed most.

Fair Grounds is designed by:

Starstruck Design
335 West Gill Road
Gill, MA 01354

Contact Information:
Don Kruger 
Lynn Nichols
Phone - 413.863.7752
Fax - 413-863-7752 
Web - http://www.starstruckdesign.com

You are receiving your Fair Grounds e-newsletter because you told us you wanted to get it, or a good friend of yours suggested to us that you would like to get it. If you like it, let us know. If you want to suggest ways that we can make it better, let us know. Our e-mail is info@peacecoffee.com

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simply send an e-mail to: newsletter-off@peacecoffee.com and put your e-mail address in the subject line. 

Remember, you are always welcome to visit our website at http://www.peacecoffee.com