Equal Exchange Makes “Giving Twice” Twice as Easy With Organic, Fair Trade Gifts

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) WEST BRIDGEWATER, Massachusetts—Nov. 12, 2010— Equal Exchange, the nation’s leading Fair Trade brand, is making it easier than ever to give gifts that “give twice” by expanding the selection of gourmet, organic, Fair Trade gifts and gift baskets available through their online store http://Shop.EqualExchange.com, and by introducing a new business gifts program. The new business gift program simplifies the process for organizations sending gifts to more than 10 recipients and offers additional benefits. All of Equal Exchange’s gourmet coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate are fairly traded, and over 95 percent are also certified organic. Even the woven baskets, coffee mugs and other related craft items that have been added to the online store are sourced on Fair Trade terms from small-scale artisans around the world.

Fair Trade gifts help provide higher, more stable incomes and greater economic opportunity for thousands of small-scale farming families and artisans around the world. Organic farming techniques emphasize safe, non-toxic, chemical-free methods that rebuild the soil, sequester carbon and nitrogen, promote biodiversity and create a healthier working environment for farmers, laborers, and surrounding communities. Selecting these gifts demonstrates your care for both the lucky recipients and for the people and the environments of the communities who produced them.   As the people who jumpstarted the Fair Trade foods category in the U.S. in 1986 Equal Exchange has always been uniquely prepared to meet one’s Fair Trade shopping needs, especially as they have long offered a variety of Fair Trade, organic specialty foods. But this year they have made Fair Trade gifts an easier, more attractive option than ever by:

• adding four more Fair Trade gift basket options

• adding new items such as fairly traded crafts, Liz Lovely organic cookies, organic cotton tote bags, and the beautifully photographed book Fair Trade: A Human Journey

• creating a comprehensive, customizable business gifts program

The Fair Trade business gifts program is a major new tool with many features to make it stress-free and simpler-than-ever to send attractive, delicious, green and socially responsible gifts to your organization’s supporters, customers, suppliers, investors, employees and old friends. You can choose either from 12 different pre-assembled gift baskets or create a customized gift basket (minimum order required). The program offers a free, customizable greeting card, including space for your organization’s logo and a custom message. Free shipping is available for orders over $1,500, and additional volume discounts are available. Customers can pre-set delivery dates and international shipping is available.   If a variety of organic, Fair Trade gifts weren’t incentive enough, Equal Exchange also offers the high level of quality that can only be achieved when working directly with farmer partners year after year after year, and on a basis of mutual support. Equal Exchange supports the farmers with long-term relationships, access to affordable credit, and high prices for their harvests. The farmer co-operatives support Equal Exchange by consistently providing their highest quality coffee, tea, cocoa, and other crops.   Lastly, choosing Equal Exchange as one’s source for holiday gifts is also a vote for a new business model. Equal Exchange is a democratically governed, 100% employee-owned worker co-operative that has won many awards for demonstrating how a business can respect farmers and its own workers and thrive in the process.   About Equal Exchange
A pioneer and U.S. market leader in Fair Trade since 1986, Equal Exchange is an award-winning, full service, nationwide provider of high quality organic coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, healthy snacks and bananas.   100 percent of Equal Exchange products are fairly traded, benefiting more than 40 small farmer co-operatives in 22 countries. In keeping with its Fair Trade mission and belief in economic democracy, Equal Exchange is a worker co-operative, owned and governed by its 110 employees, with offices, warehouses and/or cafés in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon.   CONTACT: Rodney North
774-776-7398
Rodney@equalexchange.coop

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