University Heights – John Carroll University students will invited their peers to “Fall in Love” this Valentine’s Day, but not with that hunk or hotty – instead with “Fair Trade”.  Students involved with JCU’s Campus Ministry Office sold Fair Trade Certified roses from Kenya to support student travelers on summer mission trips. 

The JCU group has been working throughout the school year to educate students, faculty, and staff about fair trade and the available products (coffee, tea, and chocolate).  Events to promote the fair trade concept have included coffee houses, concerts, and fair trade S’mores on JCU’s quad.

Natalie Terry, a sophomore at John Carroll, began working with the Fair Trade group through an internship program sponsored by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in September.  Terry has become fond of the quotation by the manager of a cocoa farmers cooperative in Ghana, "We all have to go shopping. Fair trade is just shopping with respect."

Fair Trade Certification provides workers in flower-growing countries like Ecuador, Colombia, and Kenya with fairer wages, protections from dangerous pesticide chemicals, opportunities for their community organizations to benefit directly from the sale of certified flowers, and much more.  The Fair Trade flowers are becoming more popular amongst U.S. retailers.  Locally they can be found at Sam’s Club or 1-800-FLOWERS-ONLINE.

Fair Trade Certified Flowers (TransFairUSA) - http://www.transfairusa.org/content/flowers/index.php

Fair Trade at John Carroll University- http://www.jcu.edu/campuslife/campusministry/socialjustice/fairtrade.htm

Contacts:
Natalie Terry
Class of 2010
nterry10@jcu.edu