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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Purposeful Shopping: How Fair Trade Can Change the World

Bananas, chocolate bars, coffee beans, herbs, spices next to chalkboard sign reading Fair Trade

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Fair trade is an alternative international business model that puts people and the planet first. It is designed to help growers and producers in developing countries achieve sustainable, fair relationships with exporters and consumers in wealthier parts of the globe. It focuses particularly on commodities like coffee, tea, textiles and seafood, and works to ensure sustainable prices, better working conditions and higher environmental standards.

According to the Fair World Project, “The fair trade movement shares a vision of a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices both at home and abroad, so that everyone through their work can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood.”

At least five fair trade organizations certify compliance. While the criteria of each varies, certification typically requires companies to allow a third party to audit their business practices and monitor production to ensure standards are met.

Fair trade goods can cost slightly or significantly more than conventionally traded purchases, which may explain why ethical and fair trade products make up only 1 percent of the total market. But the trend is growing: In 2018, sales of fair trade produce in the U.S. rose by 30 percent, with 60 products available. International sales of a major German-based certifier, Fairtrade International, increased almost 10-fold between 2004 and 2016, from $939 million to $8.9 billion.

Consider these steps to achieve ethical, sustainable shopping:

Protect the rights of produce workers. Fair trade bananas, avocados, coconut products and cashews often come from small growers in Africa, Latin America and Asia, where cooperatives ensure them a living wage and better working conditions. These products may cost marginally more, but are readily available at many supermarkets.

Protect sustainable tea and coffee farming. On fair trade tea and coffee farms, agrochemicals and genetically modified organisms are strictly prohibited, sustainable farming methods are encouraged and stringent programs for water conservation and proper waste disposal provide environmental stewardship.

Protect the oceans with fair trade cotton. Buying clothing made with fair trade cotton means less synthetic apparel, so washing won’t shed microplastics that make their way into the ocean, fish and then our dinner plates.

Help build strong communities with fair trade cosmetics. When the shea butter, cocoa butter, sugar and coconut oil used in many skin-care products comes from fair trade producers, a fair price is paid, decent working conditions without child labor are assured and a portion of the money is returned to infrastructure or community projects. Makers of fair trade cosmetics often use vegan ingredients and animal-free testing, as well. 

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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