Sales of Fairtrade coffee, chocolate and tea have continued to soar over the last year – with total sales exceeding $7.5 million in 2007. Sales of Fairtrade coffee alone have grown by a whopping 3,404% since 2004. ...
... If you were offered a $1 in exchange for a 50 cent coin – would you make the trade?
Check out this surprising Fairtrade clip on Youtube.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
World Fair Trade Day was delicious!
Early birds to the events day at GIC on World Fair Trade Day 2008 on Saturday 10th May were treated to free samples of fair trade chocolate. Cups of imported and local fair trade coffee were available for the price of only w500.
By 2.30 p.m. GIC was full with more than 70 people seated or standing. A speaker explained what fair trade is and how it works in different countries, and where to buy fair trade products in Korea.
After the talk more coffee was sampled, and the winning tickets to the fair trade raffle were drawn. Two prize winners were found, with the second prize (worth nearly w50,000, including a fair trade soccer ball made in Pakistan, Beautiful Coffee from Nepal, and ‘Hummingbird’ fair trade organic coffee) going to Paul Park (Park Seong Jun).
The first prize worth more than w100,000 went to one Mr Shin. The first prize pack contained a jute shopping bag full of fair trade tea, coffee, chocolate, a puzzle, a picture frame, a ring box, a soft toy, and a music CD, all of which came from the reputable New Zealand fair trade store Trade Aid.
Fair trade tea and coffee is now available in GIC for sampling or enjoying.
Drinks cost a suggested donation price of about 500 won
to maintain the supply and promote fair trade around Gwangju.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Fair trade coffee available now in Gwangju
In celebration of World Fair Trade Day 2008,
the Gwangju Fair Trade Movement is glad to announce
the discovery of two local brands of fair trade coffee in Gwangju
(and other cities around Korea),
another brand of coffee available online in Korea,
and then of course, there is always Starbucks' 'Estima'.
1.) The Beautiful Store's Beautiful Coffee has three varieties available:
'Nepal Coffee - A Gift from the Himalayas'
'Peru Coffee - A Gift from the Andes'
'Mountain Blend - Fair trade organic coffee'
* Available in whole beans, in pre-ground form, or in convenient single-serve coffee bags
* Available from:
- all Beautiful Store shops (eg. to the immediate left of Gwangju Train Station)
- all HomePlus supermarkets, in the 'whole bean' section of the coffee aisle
2.) YMCA's own 'Peace Coffee' imported from East Timor
* Available in whole bean form,
or conveniently packaged into single serve coffee bags
in three boxes of 15 each
(ie. 45 cup servings in one attractive boxed set).
* Available from the YMCA, upstairs on the third floor,
up the stairs to the left of the Tourist Information Office,
just opposite GIC, on Kumnamno.
3.) The long-established French fair trade coffee company Cafes Lobodis,
which is available through the new Korean online store 'Fair Trade Store,'
or at their shop in Apgujung in Seoul.
Lobodis is the Starbucks of fair trade coffees
in terms of its high profile which it enjoys in Europe
after celebrating its fifteenth year in business
but it is recognised for both quality of taste
and also ethical trading.
4.) Starbucks has one variety of fair trade coffee
which carries the official 'Fairtrade' logo, and is called Cafe Estima.
This is available in all Starbucks cafes in Gwangju and Korea
although only in packaged whole-bean form.
Company information on it is here and here.
It has this label on it:
the Gwangju Fair Trade Movement is glad to announce
the discovery of two local brands of fair trade coffee in Gwangju
(and other cities around Korea),
another brand of coffee available online in Korea,
and then of course, there is always Starbucks' 'Estima'.
1.) The Beautiful Store's Beautiful Coffee has three varieties available:
'Nepal Coffee - A Gift from the Himalayas'
'Peru Coffee - A Gift from the Andes'
'Mountain Blend - Fair trade organic coffee'
* Available in whole beans, in pre-ground form, or in convenient single-serve coffee bags
* Available from:
- all Beautiful Store shops (eg. to the immediate left of Gwangju Train Station)
- all HomePlus supermarkets, in the 'whole bean' section of the coffee aisle
2.) YMCA's own 'Peace Coffee' imported from East Timor
* Available in whole bean form,
or conveniently packaged into single serve coffee bags
in three boxes of 15 each
(ie. 45 cup servings in one attractive boxed set).
* Available from the YMCA, upstairs on the third floor,
up the stairs to the left of the Tourist Information Office,
just opposite GIC, on Kumnamno.
3.) The long-established French fair trade coffee company Cafes Lobodis,
which is available through the new Korean online store 'Fair Trade Store,'
or at their shop in Apgujung in Seoul.
Lobodis is the Starbucks of fair trade coffees
in terms of its high profile which it enjoys in Europe
after celebrating its fifteenth year in business
but it is recognised for both quality of taste
and also ethical trading.
4.) Starbucks has one variety of fair trade coffee
which carries the official 'Fairtrade' logo, and is called Cafe Estima.
This is available in all Starbucks cafes in Gwangju and Korea
although only in packaged whole-bean form.
Company information on it is here and here.
It has this label on it:
Friday, May 9, 2008
Fair Trade Coffee Survey
At GIC on Saturday 10th May, World Fair Trade Day 2008
there will be a fair trade coffee taste test sampling session.
There will also be organic fair trade green tea and black tea to try (in tea-bag form),
and there will be at least six different types of fair trade coffee to sample, including two from Korea.
All drinks cost whatever silver coin donation you would like to make. Suggested donation prices are w500 for instant coffees, and a bit more for whole bean varieties.
You are welcome to bring your own favourite cup from home,
or buy a paper cup at GIC
(w10 or coin donation, to discourage use of paper cups)
and try any of the number of coffees available.
Your vote will be sought on which fair trade coffee is best for GIC to offer regularly in the future.
The featured coffee below is the second from a Korean company.
The fourth featured coffee is in two different forms:
Brand: YMCA Korea, Peace Coffee Timor
Name: Peace Coffee - Coffee Bags; Peace Coffee - Whole Beans
This coffee comes in a unique and distinctive shade of egg-shell blue packaging, both appealing to the Korean sense of colour and reminiscent of the UN flag and peace-keeping force beret.
Despite bearing no official international labels certifying its organic or fair trade status, it does come to Korea via the national YMCA network. Though the colour of the packaging may be the first thing you notice, you will probably remember this single origin coffee for its pure full flavour. It has been taste tested by the GIC volunteer staff who happily endorsed the rich taste with a hint of cheeky bitter after-taste.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
World Fair Trade Day 2008
World Fair Trade Day 2008
is Saturday 10th May.
GIC are celebrating by holding an afternoon of special events.
2.00 pm Fair trade coffee and chocolate taste test sampling session #1.
All fair trade coffees less than w1,000 suggested donation prices.
2.30 - 3.30 - GIC Saturday afternoon talk:
1.) What in the world is fair trade? (* including criticisms)
2.) Where is fair trade in Gwangju and Korea?
3.) On becoming a fair trade organisation.
4.) Q & A: audience participation.
3.30 - Fair trade coffee taste test sampling session #2.
3.45 - The World Fair Trade Day raffle draw.
3.50ish - Black Gold DVD screening.
is Saturday 10th May.
GIC are celebrating by holding an afternoon of special events.
2.00 pm Fair trade coffee and chocolate taste test sampling session #1.
All fair trade coffees less than w1,000 suggested donation prices.
2.30 - 3.30 - GIC Saturday afternoon talk:
1.) What in the world is fair trade? (* including criticisms)
2.) Where is fair trade in Gwangju and Korea?
3.) On becoming a fair trade organisation.
4.) Q & A: audience participation.
3.30 - Fair trade coffee taste test sampling session #2.
3.45 - The World Fair Trade Day raffle draw.
3.50ish - Black Gold DVD screening.
Fair Trade Coffee Survey
At GIC on Saturday 10th May, World Fair Trade Day 2008
there will be a fair-trade coffee taste-test sampling-session.
You are welcome to bring your own favourite cup from home,
or buy a paper cup at GIC
(w10 or coin donation, to discourage use of paper cups)
and try any of the number of coffees available.
Your vote will be sought on which fair trade coffee is best for GIC to offer regularly in the future.
The fourth featured coffee is:
Brand: Scarborough Fair
Name: Original Blend Fairtrade Organic Granulated Instant Coffee
This conveniently instant coffee carries the Fairtrade logo,
and displays the 'Certified Organic New Zealand Agriquality' stamp,
and has a mark stating it is 'IFOAM Accredited'
(The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements).
One cup, suggested price: w500.
there will be a fair-trade coffee taste-test sampling-session.
You are welcome to bring your own favourite cup from home,
or buy a paper cup at GIC
(w10 or coin donation, to discourage use of paper cups)
and try any of the number of coffees available.
Your vote will be sought on which fair trade coffee is best for GIC to offer regularly in the future.
The fourth featured coffee is:
Brand: Scarborough Fair
Name: Original Blend Fairtrade Organic Granulated Instant Coffee
This conveniently instant coffee carries the Fairtrade logo,
and displays the 'Certified Organic New Zealand Agriquality' stamp,
and has a mark stating it is 'IFOAM Accredited'
(The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements).
One cup, suggested price: w500.
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