October marks the month that we all start to ponder the impending winter, but it also marks falling autumn leaves and the ghoulish excitement of Halloween! Two exciting celebrations occur every October: Fair Trade Month and Co-op Month 2012. And we have different types of customizable merchandise items for trick-or-treating and other Halloween and harvest festivities. We think that these merchandise items go along like pumpkin pie and whipped cream:
| Union Made Chocolate | Deans Beans Fair Trade Java Drops | USA Made Halloween Bags |
 |  |  |
| The sweetest way to celebrate the holidays, in our opinion, is with Union Made Belgian chocolates! | A great combination is chocolate and coffee. We have these two paired to make sure you stay awake through All Hallows Eve! | And the best way to keep treats- before the ceremonious “sorting of the candy” on the kitchen table- is in our custom poly totes. |
It’s not too late to get these in time for Halloween- give us a call or drop us a line and we can get started on your order!
Every October Fair Trade Month rolls around to re-inspire folks to pay close attention to where and what their dollars go to support. We live in a global world with a global economy. With so many ingredients for tasty treats coming from outside of the United States- it’s important to have a set of guidelines and principles. These guidelines are essential in order for producers to adhere to, so we know where our money is going. The Fair Trade Movement is not a brand but a means to produce the most ethical products internationally (including wherever possible, union labor and/or cooperative ownership). For more information on the international Fair Trade Movement check out World Fair Trade Organization and domestically in North America there is also the Domestic Fair Trade Association.
This October and 2012 also marks the International Year of Cooperatives 2012: Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration.
With the theme of “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World”, the Year seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world. It also encourages individuals, communities and governments to recognize the agency of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals.
