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I’ve been spreading the ‘Fair Trade’ gospel at the Irvine farmers’ market for about eight years now— did I hear an “amen, sister”?

My decision to work in the Fair Trade sector came out of a desire to put my energy into something that was meaningful, & the lack of local choices for Fair Trade.  I have continued because there still aren’t enough local Fair Trade alternatives, & I still believe that the Fair Trade movement is creating a paradigm shift in global trade. I came across the following quote some time ago, which I believe captures the essence of Fair Trade:

You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. – Buckminster Fuller

As is often the case with movements seeking to effect fundamental change, progress is slower than than those involved would like it to be. The growth of the Fair Trade movement is consumer led; so as consumers are made aware of the problems inherent in global trade as it currently stands, & they learn about the availability of alternatives, demand for Fair Trade items increases. To this effect, the dissemination of information is a key component of the work I have been doing. As well as giving out literature at the market, I have spoken about Fair Trade at local community organization events, at my daughter’s school & at my daughter’s Girl Scout troop meeting.

Currently, I am selling at the farmers’ market in Irvine (every Saturday morning from 8 to 12, at the intersection of Campus & Bridge), & online of course!

Sarita Sidhu

Fair Trade Advocate