Kate Sebag of Tropical Wholefoods: "The activist and academic Robin Murray recently described Fair Trade as 'one of the broadest and most exciting social movements of today.' Fair Trade genuinely allows connections to be made between an extraordinarily disparate and diverse set of people throughout the world." Kate's most recent project after working with dried fruits in conflict zones in Uganda in the 80s is raisins from Afghanistan. Working together with MercyCorps in the most challenging areas in a market that used to be large- Kate points out- until the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union in 1979 Tropical Wholefoods is bringing the high-quality produce back into the market.
In the US- Transfair changes its name to Fair Trade USA! To me- the journey of Fair Trade or really the work of illuminating global supply chains is nothing less than a total economic transformation - step by step - which taken all the way can lead to the business of peace. As more and more become aware of the new triple 'bottom line' (people, planet, profit [or prosperity]) - conscious consumerism demands fairness for workers in agricultural industries and creates new product opportunities. Part of the current sentiment to 'buy local' is because people don't want slave tainted chocolate for example or sweatshop garments. We all have our thrifty moments (i know I do! :) - but if you paid for the bargain basement special then that means there was suffering along the way whether that's a worker or an environmental impact - and that's just a 21st century fact. We need to ask questions, be conscious and informed on greater justice in the marketplace.
I remember well growing up in California with the quasi-creepy smiling sun-bonnet maiden gracing the cover of those little boxes. And the brief Carol Burnett raisin mini-series - Fresno - with its song Raisin Cowboy(!). [For a video artist's rendering of a grape turning into a raisin please click here.] My last boyfriend came from Fresno - I remember rows of California grapes on driving trips. Imagining that possible bounty in place of the cost of war is what my Project is moving towards.
Peace and prosperity go hand-in-hand. There are farmers - or 'poets of the earth' as the ancient Greeks called them - tilling the soil everywhere for their people's future. Whether it's literally flowering the future in burgeoning flower markets out of civil war countries in Africa; or raisins, nuts and/or minerals; even new art coming out of devastated economies. Changing the script by generating visible peace products brings in new possibilities - awareness, visibility, positive marketing; the art and poetry of communities behind everyday products. The developing VPP aims to underline, produce and promote products ushering in a world of political safety, prosperity and sensibility - a world that 'works for everyone'. Step by step - whether that's flower by flower :o or raisin by raisin - everyday items make an impact - illuminating peace building- from our neighborhood homes and communities to the ethical movement of international goods and services.
As Kate informed me- "A Fairtrade sale and purchase should mean that both the consumer and producer are satisfied that they have made a Fair transaction. The consumer should feel no guilt, the producer should feel no resentment. The Fairtade transaction - for however a brief moment - should connect producer and consumer in a bond of mutuality.
What better way to build a peaceful future in the world?
Fairtrade in Afghanistan is a tiny drop in the ocean - a few raisins exported at a Fair price from a vast troubled country is symbolic of many ordinary Afghans' hope to build a prosperous future, at peace inside Afghanistan and in peaceful interaction with the rest of the world."
The 21st century deserves nothing less than our highest aspirations in the marketplace as well as at the peace talks table. Sign up to partner with us, or keep informed via Facebook or our newsletter and be part of building the VPP brand - bringing the work, artistry and conversation of peace building in the world to . . You.
