Oxfam America

Coalition Brews Interest In Fair Trade

9 May 2005

Suffolk University students introduce Fair Trade coffee to Boston commuters.

April 12 was a chilly morning outside the Park Street subway station in downtown Boston, but 150 lucky commuters were soon warmed by free cups of coffee – Fair Trade coffee, that is.   

Eight members of the Boston Fair Trade Coalition, distributed the brew donated by Equal Exchange, a local 100% Fair Trade Certified™ coffee roaster, to kickoff an entire day of events at Suffolk University.  Students at the downtown college recently successfully campaigned to get Fair Trade Certified™ coffee served in the campus dining hall.

“Many were grateful for the coffee and congratulated us on our efforts,” said Elisa Arond, an intern at Oxfam America’s Boston headquarters.  “Some told stories of what Fair Trade products they currently purchase, while others new to the concept of Fair Trade wanted to know where they could find it.”

Dressed in “Make Trade Fair” t-shirts and bumper stickers on their coats, coalition members also handed out informational leaflets and asked commuters to call their local supermarkets to encourage them to carry more Fair Trade products.

“This was a great opportunity for the students to share their experiences and work in the local community beyond the campus boundaries,” said Arond.  

The day’s activities were part of the Global Week of Action for Trade Justice, a nation-wide network of over 250 events designed to increase awareness of trade justice.