This just in..
Cadbury Dairy Milk has committed to becoming Fair Trade Certified by the end of this summer. Read the entire press release here. Unfortunately, this commitment does not presently include the US market. You can, however, encourage them to add the good ol’ US of A to this effort here.
This is still great news for the global fair trade movement and the deliciously growing selection of fair trade chocolate available to socially-conscious chocolate lovers everywhere. At Mustard Seed, we offer both Divine and Equal Exchange chocolate and cocoa products. We actually have a customer who averages three or more of these bars a week! Her favorite is the Organic Very Dark 71% Cacoa bar.
Limiting chocolate consumption to fair trade certified brands is one of the easiest and most delightful ways to support fair business principles and safe and healthy working conditions for farmers around the world. Insisting on this certification guarantees that by giving into a chocolate craving, you are not supporting child labor and slave-like conditions, a disturbing presence on cocoa bean farms that are not fair trade certified. It may seem unnatural to look for this label, but it is much more responsible (and tasty at that) to be aware of exactly what is going into that Reese’s peanut butter cup or those double chocolate chip cookies and make an informed decision you can feel good about.
Need a place to start? See this list published by Global Exchange of 100% Fair Trade chocolate and cocoa products. And, of course, you’re always welcome to stop by our store for a sweet sample of chocolate deliciousness any time.
Love,
Mustard Seed
Filed under: Community
It seems that most of our customers find their way into our store after having been told about us by family or friends, watching the process of us setting up the store this summer, or happening to notice us from across the street.
This morning we were visited by a woman originally from Syracuse, New York who was in town to watch a friend in an archery competition. She explained that in preparation for the trip to Columbia, she researched local fair trade stores to “make the trip worth it.”
What a fun story for us at Mustard Seed to hear – an individual who cares enough about fair trade that she intentionally sought out a place to practice it!
So, if we were to visit Syracuse, what types of fair trade stores could we find?
A quick Google search shows we could stop by Bolivia Fair Trade and find a selection of alpaca wear – gloves, scarves, even leg warmers! Fair World Marketplace, a Ten Thousand Villages partner store, and the Spiritual Renewal Center of the Syracuse Diocese work with wholesalers Ten Thousand Villages and SERRV International to offer products very similar to ours. We could also visit Syracuse University, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and Syracuse Real Food Cooperative for fair trade beverage and food items. A trip to this area could be quite worthwhile for us and the artisans we’d be benefiting by our purchases.
Watching this new friend leave with Divine chocolate and Equal Exchange tea in tow, her stop at Mustard Seed seemed quite worth it to us. Thanks for seeking us out!
Love,
Mustard Seed
It is officially, excitedly, finally the first day of spring. It must be official because a woman just rolled by our open door on roller skates.
Yes, it is spring. And what better way to welcome the new blooms than by featuring some colorful new items?
We recently unveiled our growing collection of tagua nut jewelry. Vibrant necklaces, earrings, and rings made of this “vegetable ivory” are bold statement pieces. Beginning with a large pod called a cabeza found on the Ivory Nut Palm tree of the Columbian rainforest, pods that naturally fall to the ground are broken open to reveal numerous seeds. The shells are removed from the seeds to reveal a coconut-like white seed that can be dyed a variety of colors and carved into different shapes. Tagua nut hardens with time to ivory-like hardness, providing an environmentally sustainable alternative to the animal product. Our tagua nut jewelry comes from Ethnic Pride Marketing, a fair trade certified wholesaler of tagua, bamboo, and natural silk accessories. We will also soon be working with Hope for Women, a fair trade organization featuring greeting cards and jewelry made exclusively by marginalized women.
Our recycled fabric bags made in Northern India have also brought a lot of color to the store. Each unique bag features a patchwork of fabric recycled from the textile industry. These bags sparkle with tiny sequins and mirrors as well as jingle from bells and shells that adorn them. Families with little hope for providing for themselves in a drought-affected farming area are able to earn a living wage by making these bags for Handmade Expressions. And each bag features a small pocket on the strap for a cell phone, making them just that much better!
Also new to our store are aquamarine and sea blue wind chimes and lanterns made by artisans in the Phillipines from recycled bottles. Employees of SAFFY Handcrafts specialize in items made of capiz shell and recycled materials. We’ve hung ours in the doorway in hopes of it catching a breeze every now and then.
Come by and see the newest hues to join our ever-changing collection of fair trade goods! And happy spring!
Love,
Mustard Seed
Filed under: Community | Tags: coffee, Columbia, fair trade, ice cream, t-shirts
Being located in the Downtown District of wonderful Columbia, Missouri has had amazing perks for Mustard Seed. Our store makes its home on the ever-popular 9th Street in the heart of this shopping area. We are around the corner from the Artisan and right next door to Kaldi’s Coffee with Sparky’s Ice Cream and Acme T-Shirts just down the street. Across the street from us is Main Squeeze and Lakota Coffee. All of these neighbors come together to make this street a popular destination for walk-by shopping.
The Artisan, Kaldi’s, and Lakota serve delicious fair trade certified coffee and tea, as well as delicious baked goods and lunch items one can only dream of purchasing each day. Main Squeeze and Sparky’s, both locally owned businesses, compliment each other by serving delicious natural foods and legendary ice cream. Every once in a while, a volunteer from our store offers to treat from Sparky’s – a very tasty perk of being so close to this unique ice cream shop! Mustard Seed has been working with Acme since day one to provide our fans with wearable support. Their amazing American Apparel t-shirts are perfect for our logo and have received nothing but rave reviews for great fit and comfort.
Springtime brings the people of Columbia outdoors to support these businesses, and we couldn’t be happier to be located right in the middle of them all. It is stores like these that make Columbia so special – stores that support our community and at the same time provide an opportunity for shoppers to vote with their dollars for their cause, be it local, organic, sweatshop-free, fair trade, or simply delicious.
We feel at home here, giving the people of Columbia a chance to support marginalized workers across the world, after a coffee date or while enjoying an ice cream cone or a smoothie. Our community has welcomed Mustard Seed with open arms, taking ownership of our cause and telling their friends about our unique products. They have built connections between our little store and artisans in Uganda making beads out of paper. They have joined our efforts by giving Divine chocolate as stocking stuffers and Bolivian shawls as birthday presents. They have shared stories and ideas of how we can help more people, add more products, and further our cause even more.
As Columbia warms up even more, we’re looking forward to meeting more of you. Stop by and see us!
Love,
Mustard Seed
Filed under: Mission
Mustard Seed Fair Trade opened its doors to Columbia, Missouri on October 11, 2008 with the goal of engaging the local community in the principles and practice of fair trade. In an effort to further the dialogue our organization has started, we are beginning this blog.
Fair trade gives opportunities to artisans and families in developing countries, allowing them to create sustainable livelihoods. Unlike aid, it allows them to be a part of the process of working to make a better life for their family and community. Mustard Seed gives the people of Columbia a chance to use their purchasing power to better the lives of people halfway across the world.
Our blog will feature stories of artisans, the products they make, and ways fair trade is spreading around the world as well as events in our local community. We’re always interested in hearing about what fair trade means to you and how you’ve found ways to incorporate it into your life.
We hope you enjoy, and please feel free to offer any suggestions you may have.
Love,
Mustard Seed
