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Equal Exchange

equalexchange

About Me

FAIRLY TRADED COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE AND SNACKS
Welcome to Equal Exchange, a worker-owned co-operative.
Equal Exchange has created Big Change since 1986. It all started with an idea: what if food could be traded in a way that is honest and fair, a way that empowers both farmers and consumers? What if trade supported small farmer co-ops that use sustainable methods, rather than industrialized agribusiness that relies on exploited labor and harmful chemicals? Our founders asked these questions as they envisioned a trade model that values farmers, consumers and the earth.
Our products now include fairly traded and organic coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks from all over the world, including here in the United States. We invite you to join us. Together we can create stronger local communities, a more just food system and a healthier planet.
Looking for more about Fair Trade and Equal Exchange? Visit our website: www.equalexchange.coop and be sure to check out our blog: www.SmallFarmersBigChange.coop
Join our Facebook fan page: here

My Interests

How can you support our small farmer partners' efforts to green the planet?

Take these easy steps:

-Continue to purchase Equal Exchange coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.
-Starting on Earth Day (April 22) and continuing throughout 2008, Equal Exchange will donate 20 cents from each 12oz. ORGANIC LOVE BUZZ sold into our Small Farmers. Green Planet. fund. This money will go directly to our farmer partners in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Colombia to support their reforestation, organic conversion, and environmental protection efforts.
-Write a check to Grassroots International and send it to: Equal Exchange 50 United Drive West Bridgewater, MA 02379 Write “Small Farmers. Green Planet. fund” on the check.

Visit our new blog to learn more about this campaign



WORKER-OWNED CO-OPERATIVES

Equal Exchange was named one of the most democratic workplaces in 2007: click here for more information

Equal Exchange worker-owner meeting, where each worker-owner has an equal voice, an equal vote and an equal stake.

Click here to learn about our worker-owned co-operative



I'd like to meet:

You!

Want to volunteer at an event or have an Equal Exchange house party? Let us know - we rely on people like you!

Check out this video on Equal Exchange's trip to Chiapas, Mexico

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Upcoming events where you can find Equal Exchange: stay tuned!

Music:


Rob Everts, Co-Executive Director of Equal Exchange, joined Equal Exchange for a performance at a Boston Farmers' Market. Click here to see more photos from his visit


My Blog

Part 2: How free trade destroys local economies, hurts small farmers and causes massive waves

Part 2:  How free trade destroys local economies, hurts small farmers and causes massive waves of migration "There used to be one bus a day leaving this area (Esquintla, Chiapas) heading nor...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:45:00 PST

Part 1:Reflections on the connections between buy local, fair trade, free trade and immigration

Reflections following a trip to Chiapas:  connections between "buy local" and fair trade; free trade and immigration& and how our trading partner CIRSA is offering farmers a concrete and hope...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:12:00 PST

36 hours in San Marcos Guatemala.

By Todd Caspersen, Director of Purchasing, Equal Exchange We set for the town of Malacatan where we would examine a warehouse that was to be rented and used as a centro de acopio a coffee collect...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:04:00 PST

Copley Square, Boston: Find us at the Farmers Market

After many years of supporting the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets, Equal Exchange is excited that we are finally becoming a regular at one of their Boston markets.  You can now find ...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:53:00 PST

Bolivia July 2007

By Beth Ann Caspersen, Quality Control Manager, Equal ExchangeTo land in the city of La Paz is like no other place I have ever been. The air is thin and soothing but requires you to slow you...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:50:00 PST

You could be the next Equal Exchange featured artist.............

Welcome to the Equal Exchange MySpace Blog......Equal Exchange is looking for a new artist to feature on MySpace.   Who qualifies? Any artist/musician with a Myspage page! It helps if the ar...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:08:00 PST

Brattleboro, VT Declared the 2nd Fair Trade Town in the U.S.

Brattleboro, Vermont Declared  the 2nd Fair Trade Town in the U.S.The Fair Trade Brattleboro Resolution was approved at the Selectboard Meeting this evening, making Brattleboro, Vermont the Fir...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:50:00 PST

Nicaraguan Zonification News: June 2007

NicaraguaJune 2007 Zonification Project A tried and true method to understand great quality is to understand each part of the quality chain, from the varieties selected, to the actual flavor p...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:32:00 PST

Equal Exchange hosts Nicaraguan Intern

We are pleased to announce that the QC (quality control) team will host an intern from Nicaragua from April 9th until June 26th for 3 days a week.  In partnership with the United Students for Fai...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:45:00 PST

Boston goes Fair Trade

May 12th is World Fair Trade Day, a day set aside each year around the globe to raise awareness of fair trade. This year, Boston is joining the chorus of voices around the world for fair trade at the ...
Posted by Equal Exchange on Mon, 07 May 2007 06:49:00 PST