Taste free samples of organic and equitably traded food and wine as the Local Fair Trade Network (LFTN) celebrates its label debut at the Seward Co-op and Birchwood Café, July 22 and 25, respectively.

The concept and practice of fair trade “creates a food system that is just for farmers, farm workers, retail workers and consumers,” states a press release from the Local Fair TradeN etwork, which is launching a pilot project with two co-op grocery stores and four local farms that “practice fairness in their relationships, including sustainable prices for farmers, establishing long-term trading relationships, treating farm workers with dignity and respecting their right to organize.” Fair trade guarantees prices for farmers’ products and allows them to “stay on their land, educate their children and improve their communities,” states the release.

To learn more and get a taste of the end product, visit the Seward Co-op, 2111 E. Franklin Ave., on Sunday, July 22, 3–6 p.m., when representatives of LFTN and AJP and Keewaydin Farms will to talk to customers and distribute free samples of food from participating farms.

Then, on Wednesday, July 25, LFTN will hold its open house at the Birchwood Café, 3311 E. 25th St., 6–8 p.m. Sample the Birchwood specialties featuring Riverbend Farms produce, or sip Etica Fair Trade wines from South Africa, Chile and Argentina while you hear about the movement towards fair trade in American agriculture.

last revised: July 19, 2007

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