Thoughts on Food, Fair Trade, and the Environment


So Christine busted my chops on buying fair trade. It’s ok, they needed to be busted. I understand why buying fair trade is best, I get the pay issues that workers face, my conscience tells me that it’s right. But the check book says no way.

She’s started buying coffee from Global Exchange Fair Trade Store. They are a great store that sells everything and anything from around the world, in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re part of the problem. OK, so you’re still part of the environmental problem when you think of the impact from shipping the things you bought. But on a human level you’re doing better.

I’m a chocoholic. So things like the Chocoholics Gift Basket or the Chocolate Lover’s Gift Basket sound too tempting to me. Unfortunately, the cost of fair trade chocolate is too much for my budget. Which leaves a problem: keep buying what I’m buying or go without. I already say no to Nestle, which means I’ve given up a lot of delicious candies that I could have once lived on. Is it worth it to go chocolate free?

I know that a lot of people are trying to eat local foods. Like the 100 mile diet for instance, where people try to eat only foods that are at most 100 miles from their home. Something like that would certainly make chocolate a no-go.  Unless you live in Hawaii. Or you have a good greenhouse.

The more you learn the harder the choices always seem to be. The environment, fair trade, problems that don’t go away when you close your eyes. Why does this stuff have to be so difficult? Yeah, I know…

Tags: ,


Like this post? Subscribe so you don't miss a thing!

Bookmark Me!

Published by: Summer on January 11th, 2008 | Filed under food, life



4 Responses to “Thoughts on Food, Fair Trade, and the Environment”

  1. christine Says:
    January 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am

    I come with help!!

    I am buying fair trade cocoa (which last forever) and getting my chocolate fix with this recipe (which is KICK-BUTT YUM!!): http://www.simple-vegetarian-recipes.com/drinks-the-best-hot-cocoa.html

    christine’s last blog post..I just want to say - I’m so sorry

  2. Awesome Mom Says:
    January 11th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    I would love to buy better food than I currently can afford. My eventual goal is to grow my own. That way I know exactly how it was grown and I know that no gas was used to ship it to me. And by grow my own I mean all my own food. I plan on having rabbits and chickens around to supply my meat. I think that this is the best way to take control of the food chain. A lot of people waster their yards. There is a lot more fertile land out there than many people think.

    Awesome Mom’s last blog post..Insecurities

  3. Sara Says:
    January 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am

    Yea…this is why we want to grow our own food because that way we can afford it! One step at a time…yep.

  4. Chocolate Done Right Says:
    January 31st, 2008 at 11:45 am

    [...] BeliefsBooks Are My FriendsDo You Zwaggle?5 Things You Should Be Doing Online In 2008Making A PlanThoughts on Food, Fair Trade, and the Environment [...]

Leave a Comment

« Back to text comment