Fair Trade Month 2008 || Norman Style

We still have a few days left in this great month of October - Fair Trade Month. I was online looking for events and things going on in our great state of Oklahoma dealing with Fair Trade. During the search, I came across a great group of people in Norman, Oklahoma, just a few minutes from Oklahoma City. The group is called Norman Fair Trade and they help track all sorts Fair Trade related things. The group was formed this year in hopes to help Norman become a Fair Trade City. The group has been busy this during Fair Trade Month hosting everything from a video screening of Black Gold, Fair Trade tastings, Reverse Trick or Treating and much more. They are also currently working on getting a petition to President Boren at The University of Oklahoma to get OU to serve only fairly traded coffees on campus. The Norman Transcript wrote a great article about the group with interviews with some of the founding members. We are excited to see that this group is working hard for Fair Trade and we look forward to seeing what else they have going on in the future. Be sure to stop by their blog for a look at their "where to buy Fair Trade" map and to sign up for their mailing list. This is the last part of the Norman Transcript article: "By making Norman a Fair Trade City," Bhand said. "We can strengthen our commitment towards fairness, social responsibility and environmental sustainability." Want to know more about how a city becomes a Fair Trade City? You can head on over to the Fair Trade Towns USA and read all about it. In short, this is what they look for to make a town a fair trade town (this information comes from their "about" section): A local Fair Trade steering committee is formed that meets on a regular basis. The aim of the committee is to increase awareness of and demand for Fair Trade products through education, outreach and events. A range of Fair Trade products are available in local stores, cafes and other venues. These include Fair Trade Certified products and products sold by retailers that are members of the Fair Trade Federation. Fair Trade products are used by a number of local organizations, such as places of worship, schools, hospitals and offices. The local campaign attracts media attention and visible public support, including press and radio. The town or city council passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade and the local campaign. We will continue to track the progress of Norman Fair Trade and hopefully you will see an event hosted by Cafe Evoke Catering and Norman Fair Trade in the near future! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, norman fair trade Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

What is that Taste?

Taste is key. Not just in coffee but in everything. Think about it....there are so many things we do that revolved around taste. At Cafe Evoke Catering, we have been thinking a lot about this and trying to figure out what we can do to not only help us understand the "taste" of the coffee and espresso we are serving to our clients but also to have something to talk to our clients about! Nothing is more fun than having that first cup with a client and talking about what type of coffee or espresso we are serving and why it is better with certain flavored syrups and sauces or with certain milk or, better yet, by itself. That is all well and good but what does it all really mean and how can we learn even more about why things taste the way they do? In perfect timing, our friend Scott at Batdorf and Bronson wrote an awesome article that was featured in this months trade journal, Fresh Cup. There is an endless supply of substances you can use for palate stimulation during training. You can create your own cuppings using chocolates, spices, breakfast cereals, nuts, teas, Kool-Aid, rum—whatever. Just remember to keep it all in context. You’re looking to expand the range of taste sensations you recognize and can verbalize. The best cuppers don’t just throw around descriptions of exotic fruits or fancy chocolates; they can identify subtle characteristics in coffees that compare with the components they recognize from these other items. It is from this process that the cupper hones skills and reinforces past lessons. It is all about training your palate. It doesn't even need to be as technical and in depth as even this excerpt talks. Being able to pick out tastes in coffee is a great thing and - if nothing else - you will be able to understand the coffee you are drinking and tell the difference between different single origins and blends. We hope to be able to provide these types of "cuppings" in the future for our friends and clients in Oklahoma City. We will not only cup some great coffees but also cheeses, olives, nuts, fruits and other things. This will be a fun thing and we will be sure to keep you up to date on the tastings and when/where you can expect to be a part of it. For more information, you can head on over to the Dancing Goats Blog for the story in pdf form. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, dancing goats Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Sad News from the SCAA

I saw this letter on Barista Exchange this morning on behalf of the SCAA's Executive Director, Ric Rhinehart: It is with considerable regret that I inform you that I accepted Michelle Campbell’s resignation this week from her position as Director of Community and Events. Michelle has been with the association since 2002 and has played a key role in the development of the barista community, regional and national barista competitions and the World Barista Championship. Michelle will be sorely missed, and we extend both our heartfelt gratitude and our warmest wishes for her in all of her future endeavors. Ric Rhinehart Executive Director SCAA Dang. Good luck Michelle. Thanks for being a cornerstone in the barista community. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, michelle campbell Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Fair Trade Month 2008 || Fair Trade Giveaway Winner!

The results are in for our awesome Fair Trade Month giveaway! Thanks to everyone who left comments on this blog or emailed me about the giveaway. The Fair Trade Action Kit is a cool and simple way to make your Halloween festivities a little more fair! And the winner is: Jodi of This Handmade Life! Soon, the action kit will be on it's way to Jodi. The Action Kit is the first of its kind. Global Exchange's Fair Trade Trick or Treat Kit has everything you need to make Halloween something special. It includes Fair Trade Trick-or-Treat chocolate to hand out, a Halloween decoration, a Fair Trade is Boo-tiful poster to hang in your window, and more! Thank you, Jodi, for supporting Fair Trade during this month. We hope you enjoy the kit and that you will be able to give out some of the best chocolate your little visitors will receive this Halloween. Thank you also to Global Exchange for sponsoring this giveaway. There is plenty of time to head on over to the Global Exchange Store to shop for tons of great Fair Trade Certified stuff - including Halloween chocolates and action kits. Have a nice day. Stop on over to Jodi's blog and tell her congrats! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, fair trade month Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

The Southwest and South Central Regional Barista Competition - Info You Need!

So, this may be new to some of you and for others another day in the park. The Southwest and South Central Regional Barista Competitions are heading to Austin in a joint effort this year. Here is the information on the event in press release form. The Specialty Coffee Association of America presents the 2008 Southwest and South Central Regional Barista Competitions hosted by Cuvee Coffee Roasting Co. Calling All Competitors, Judges and Volunteers More than 100 coffee professional will be converging on Austin October 31 through November 2 at the Radisson Town Lake in an effort to win a regional titles of South Central & Southwest Regional Barista Champions, which guarantees them a semifinal spot in the United States Barista Championship. The winners of the Austin competitions will travel to Portland, Oregon in March 2009 to vie for a chance to participate in the World Barista Championship in Atlanta, Georgia in May 2009. The competition rewards demonstrated excellence in the art and skill of preparing and serving espresso. Entrants must make 12 beverages, including four espressos, four cappuccinos and four original signature drinks of their own creation within 15 minutes in front of a panel of accomplished industry judges. Competitors are judged on taste, beverage presentation, technical skills, station cleanliness and overall impression. “The coffee culture is booming in Austin and the city has a vibe and character all its own,” said Ric Rhinehart, Executive Director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). “It is the perfect place for a barista competition and we are excited that the event will be bigger with two competition regions coming together in one place.” Cuvée Coffee Roasting Company, currently based just outside Houston but moving to Spicewood in December, is hosting the competition for the second year in a row. Major sponsors for the event include Official Espresso Machine Sponsor Nuova Simonelli, Official Grinder Sponsor Mahlkonig USA, Inc., Kerry Foods, La Marzocco, and Monin Gourmet Flavorings. A complete list of sponsors can be found on the competition Web site at www.scbarista.com. “We are honored to again host this prestigious SCAA event in Texas and to help bring together competitors who are so committed to their craft and to finding innovative approaches to preparing espresso,” said Mike McKim, president of Cuvee Coffee. “There are so many elements that go into making a perfect cup of coffee and this is always an intense competition for both competitors and onlookers.” Other coffee industry leaders from the South Central Region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, and the Southwest Region, which includes Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, will join the baristas at the events. From what I have heard, you will not be seeing any baristas from Oklahoma at this event, at least from Oklahoma City. I would assume that our friends from DoubleShot Coffee will be there so if you are in Okie and will be around Austin, head on over. You will be entertained and amazed and what these guys (and gals) can do with espresso, milk and a creative mind! Hopefully one day we can invite you all to a competition in Oklahoma City. We are swamped that weekend and our other friends in town are as well which is a bummer. There will be much more information on this event as the days get closer. Hopefully I will be able to get a post or two on here about competitions and how it all works. I am also going to find out if they will be streaming the event live and will let you know! Good rainy day to you... ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, SCRBC and SWRBC Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Tuesday House Keeping

Just a few notes of house keeping for this Tuesday - the day before "winter (according to some around this place)" hits OKC for two days. I may make this a weekly thing. It seems that we all could use a few small bits of information every once in a while. So, here we go: 1. Fair Trade Halloween Giveaway!: Did you sign up yet? If not, head on over and sign up today! All you have to do leave a comment with your email address (or website that we can reach you through) so that we can email you if you win! We will then have an awesome Fair Trade Action Kit heading your way! Seriously, sign up! We will have it open until 5:00 pm tomorrow, Oct. 22nd! We have to have time to get the kit to you before Halloween!! 2. Cafe Evoke Catering Newsletter!: Do you get our "monthly" e-newsletter? I know you probably get asked to sign up for newsletters all the time but this one is good for you, trust me. We talk about all sorts of stuff that is going on with Cafe Evoke Catering and in our industry. We also talk about new packages, services and products that you don't want to miss. It is also a great way to keep in touch with us in case we put out an awesome special. We are crazy like that! You can head to our website for the mailing list sign up. We are sending out this month's today so hurry!! 3. Fair Trade Month: We are 21 days into Fair Trade Month 2008. We have had a great time at events over the past few weeks talking about Fair Trade and getting people involved. Have you gotten involved? Here are a few things you can do to make Fair Trade happen in your community: Buy Fair Trade Certified Chocolates and Coffee Rent/Buy the film Black Gold - A Film About Coffee and Trade. Heck, have a party around the film and have all your friends over for some chocolate and coffee! Look for the label at your local grocery! If you don't see it, ask for it! Many stores have comment cards that ask for your suggestions. Suggest that they look for more Fair Trade Certified products! Go to community events! Many communities have great events going on - Farmers Markets, Food Festivals, etc. These are not only a great place to get involved with your local communities, it also allows you to reach further in your efforts to help the global community. Why? Many of these festivals will have Fair Trade products and other goods that you can purchase. You can help local merchants while helping our friends in other countries as well. World Fest happened this month in OKC. The event was centered around Fair Trade but also had many other organic and hand made things to get your paws on. Look for this type of event going on in your area! So, that wraps up this edition of House Keeping with Cafe Evoke Catering. I hope the week started well for everyone. Stop by and say HI every once in a awhile! Also, be sure to sign up for that giveaway. We are excited to be a part of this with the Global Exchange Store. Get out and vote in 2 weeks. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, fair trade month Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Tunes, Friends and Great Specialty Coffee

So, what are you doing Saturday evening? Not only is Saturday a great night to listen to live music, you will also have a chance to drink some great specialty coffee as well! Cafe Evoke Catering will be set up and serving free coffee drinks during the show - all night! Come try some of the best Fair Trade and Organic Certified coffee and espresso drinks Oklahoma has to offer and hear some great music. We will also have our all new spiced apple cider for you to enjoy! Here is the information about the event (if you did not click on the above flier): When: Saturday, October 18th at 7:00 pm Where: The Backroom (Hefner and Broadway Ext. behind Bridgeway Church) Who: Three Bands including Joel Limpic (his CD release!), Sleeping at Last, and Philip Rice (solo). We are pretty sure that it would be good for you to get there - if not to listen to some hot music, to get a specialty coffee and hang out with Cafe Evoke Catering. So, we will just see you there! Also, be sure to sign up for the Fair Trade Month giveaway! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, the backroom Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

An Awesome Fair Trade Month Giveaway!!

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that October is Fair Trade month, a time to celebrate fair wages and healthy, safe working conditions for artisans and farmers? Fair Trade Certification encourages environmentally sustainable business practices and prohibits the abuse of child slave labor, and since the cocoa industry is swarming with accusations of child slavery and other human rights abuses, choosing Fair Trade Certified chocolate is really important. Global Exchange - as we have talked about before - is all about Fair Trade gifts and other supplies. I wanted to share a bit from them about Fair Trade Month that Tex Dworkin, Global Exchange Director of Marketing, Global Exchange Store shared with me: Celebrate Fair Trade Month with Global Exchange What’s the difference between people who choose Fair Trade certified chocolate to hand out to Trick-or-Treaters and those who hand out un-certified chocolate? Lipstick. Kidding of course, but in truth the cocoa industry is no laughing matter. Let’s face it. Chocolate that isn’t Certified Fair Trade is just plain scary. The US Department of State estimates that more than 109,000 children in the Ivory Coast’s cocoa industry work under “the worst forms of child labor,” while the International Labor Rights Forum claims 284,000 children toil in abusive labor conditions in West Africa’s cocoa fields. October isn’t just about Halloween. October is also Fair Trade month, a time to celebrate the economic model guaranteeing fair wages and healthy, safe working conditions for artisans and farmers. Fair Trade encourages environmentally sustainable business practices and prohibits the abuse of child slave labor. Luckily people who purchase Fair Trade Certified chocolate are making a positive difference in the world. For years now, the cocoa industry has been linked to child slavery in Africa, unsafe working conditions for cocoa farmers worldwide, and harmful chemical pesticides that diminish the health of our environment as well as workers in cocoa farms. Fair Trade Certified chocolate guarantees that these and other conditions are prohibited, so consumers can enjoy chocolate as it is meant to be; a tasty sweet experience. Global Exchange is doing its part to ensure that Fair Trade becomes the norm for chocolate and other products, not the alternative. Here are a few ways we’re working to promote Fair Trade: ~ Our Sweet Smarts Fair Trade campaign is a national network of individuals, from young children to senior citizens, whose simple, creative actions to educate and advocate for Fair Trade certified products transform communities and corporations to support small farmers' efforts to build a better future for their families. http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/SweetSmarts.html ~In honor of Fair Trade month, our Online Store is giving out FREE Fair Trade chocolate with every order during October, while supplies last. http://www.globalexchangestore.org/holiday2.html ~Reverse Trick or Treating: A pleasant surprise will greet nearly a quarter million people distributing candy at their door, when youth reverse the Halloween tradition to hand adults a sample of Fair Trade chocolate. http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/reversetrickortreating/ ~Fair Trade Trick or Treat Action Kit: The first of its kind, our Fair Trade Trick or Treat Kit has everything you need to make Halloween something special. It includes Fair Trade Trick-or-Treat chocolate to hand out, a Halloween decoration, a Fair Trade is Boo-tiful poster to hang in your window, and more! http://www.globalexchangestore.org/trickortreatkit.html So in honor of Fair Trade month (and Halloween!!), we're sending one lucky reader a FREE Fair Trade Trick or Treat Action Kit. The Fair Trade Trick or Treat Kit has everything you need to make Halloween something special. It includes Fair Trade Trick-or-Treat chocolate to hand out, a ghostly Papel Picado Halloween decoration, a Fair Trade is Boo-tiful poster to hang in your window, festive spooky postcards and an ecofriendly bag for Trick or Treating. To win this free kit, simply post a comment to this blog by Oct. 22nd with your thoughts about the Fair Trade Action Kit, along with your email address so we can let you know if you've won, and you're automatically entered for a chance to win your free kit! As I have said before, this is a great way to get involved with Fair Trade Month. I mean, you are going to be buying candy for the kids anyway - might as well make it fair and get a great word out at the same time! Heck, it could even be free! Don't want to wait until the end of the contest?? Your are in luck! You can purchase your action kit and other Halloween stuff at the Global Exchange Store! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, fair trade month Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

The Spero Project

Spero. (Latin) to hope for, hope. We heard about this great new project that is going on around our city and beyond. The group is called The Spero Project and they are on a mission to provide information, resources, and networking opportunities, equipping and encouraging individuals and local churches to meet the needs of a global community in innovative, effective, and exciting ways. The group does quite a bit of work in coffee producing countries and have been spreading the word on Fair Trade Month for the past few weeks. We heard about them a few weeks ago from a friend and thought the idea was great. We began reading through their website and about all the things they were up to. I got an email from Kim of The Spero Project a few days later which was cool. We had a chance to be interviewed by the group last week on Fair Trade coffee and why we do what we do. You can read the interview here. If you are interested in what else they have going on, be sure to keep in touch with their blog and check back often. You can sign up for updates and support the groups they are supporting. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, the spero project Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Relationship and Fair Trade Coffees Discussed

There is lots of talk these days about certified coffees - Fair Trade, Shade Grown/Bird Friendly, and many more. What does it all mean? These certified labels are great because, as consumers, it gives us something to keep our eye out for. But is that the only "good" choice we have when purchasing products (we will talk coffee of course)? There are many pros and cons to the certification programs under any label that you might see in coffee. (Quickly, when we talk "labels" we are talking certified labels and not the producer or coffee roaster) There is a new movement on the scene that has really been taking shape for quite awhile now. As the video talks, Relationship Coffee tries to get beyond the label and to the meat of what all labels are really about. In definition, Relationship Coffee is a business model featuring individual long-term relationships between roasters and growers, based on quality rather than on wholesale prices. Many companies that go the route of Relationship Coffee (sometimes referred to as Direct Trade Coffee) are against the certification process the Fair Trade program puts on farmers and coffee producing countries and many for reasons that make since. The goal for many of us that care and focus on the social aspects of coffee in these producing countries is to be sure that the producers and their families are benefited - not only with a paycheck for the coffee that we and our customers enjoy every day but also for the livelihood - including education and environmental issues in their workplace. The biggest differences between the Fair Trade label and Relationship Coffee is how farmers are paid and what goes in to the ability of these farmers to gain access to the programs. Here is a bit about it: Relationship Coffee: This is a direct and transparent relationship between the roaster and the farmer. Many times, the roasters are in contact with the farm throughout the year and travel to origin to cup and preview coffees with the hands that grow them. Fair Trade Coffee: This is a market-based approach to empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods (via Wikipedia). In general, these two programs go after the same thing. While the Fair Trade program is established and carries certifications, there are costs involved to not only the end user but also the producers and the co-ops that help get the product to market. It is because of all of these policies that the Relationship Coffee began to take off. In a perfect world, we would have the ability to have the direct relationship promoted in relationship coffee with the accountability of a seal for our consumers. Many people are abandoning the Fair Trade program due to the "middlemen" some see in the process but in all reality, it is the only program we have that is visibly accounted for through the process. As it stands, we have the open source version of Fair Trade in Relationship Coffee. Filling the gaps in the Fair Trade program and fixing holes that have been created by the politics of it all will at some point bring it all together again. This is just a quick thought on the two. There are miles of type needed to truly get my point across and to really dive in to these types of coffees. I will talk more about it all in the future as I continue to try to figure all of this out! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, fair trade month Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Society of Edmond Wedding Professionals

Cafe Evoke Catering was invited to join the Society of Edmond Wedding Professionals. We are excited to be a part of this great group. As Cafe Evoke Catering is dedicated to the highest quality in coffee preparation and service, the Society of Edmond Wedding Professionals is doing their part in making the Oklahoma wedding industry one of the best around. The Society of Edmond Wedding Professionals puts on a great event each year - what they call a virtual wedding. This is not your typically bridal show. This show actually goes through the motions of a real wedding with each vendor doing their part in the day. From caterers, cake makers, and beverage service to gowns, hair design, music and anything else you can think of. I will talk more about this years show - to take place in March - as it gets closer. As I've talked about before, the wedding industry has always been a close friend to Cafe Evoke Catering. There are so many people in the Oklahoma wedding market that are doing a great job taking wedding in Oklahoma to the next level and the Society of Edmond Wedding Professionals is one of them! Someone at the meeting on Wednesday said the wedding should be an accessory to the bride (I would say groom, too!) which I thought was a refreshing way to look at it. We try out best to seamless fit in to each event that we do and working with others that are doing that same thing is fantastic. Fore more information, visit the group online at www.edmondweddings.com. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, society of edmond wedding professionals Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Talking Politics - Lightly

There are not many areas of politics I enjoy talking about on this blog but something last night got me excited. That tingle of enjoyment as I watched the debate. I felt comfortable and at home with what was going on and was intrigued by what I was watching. Yes, it could be that no matter who wins in a month we will have a first in the United States but I think it was something else. The debate was at Belmont University!. Yes, there are many things that were discussed that should have got my attention but what really did was the location. I enjoyed my 4 years at Belmont and would go back in a heartbeat if I had a chance/reason/opportunity. So much has happened since I left and it is great to see - Belmont Basketball taking it to Duke last year in the grand tourney, the debate, what's next? As Jenni and I sat and watched the pre-debate behind the scenes stuff that C-Span had at the event, we got to see Belmont Present Fisher and other people that have been a part of the school and event. Belmont seemed to live up to the challenge of putting on this type of event and I think Belmont will continue to impress with their ability to serve as a place for great events like this for years to come. I know it was crazy for the students of Belmont University for the past few days and it will probably stay a bit crazy for few days longer. Thanks for taking that in stride and helping to make this happen. It came off great and to people that had to watch it all unfold on TV or over the Internet, you looked good and it felt seamless. Another thing that Belmont did that I thought was cool was set up a site - Belmont Debate 08. The site included all information you would need to visit Nashville for the debate, register to vote, live feed, watch party information and much more. You can view pictures from the event last night here. So, while I was most excited to see my friends at Belmont do such a great job, the event was bigger than that of course - or maybe it wasn't. This is an important election in a time that will go down in history no matter who is "in charge" in the White House. Vote the way you feel you need to. Sift through the ugliness and dirty politics from both sides and get down to the meat of each campaign and be sure to get out there and vote. It is important and will help get our country through these hard times. OK, no more politics of this sort on this blog. Coffee is on the table and ready to be enjoyed! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, belmont debate 08 Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

A Fair Halloween..

It is that time of year again. A time for candy lovers of all kinds. While I prefer sour and hard candies, others are all about the chocolate. Well, the good news is that you can get all sorts of candy that will not only fulfill your desires for a "happy halloween" but will also go much further than that. When many people think of buying Fair Trade Certified products, they think of coffee. I'm happy to say that coffee is just one of many products that you can purchase knowing it was fairly traded and that the producers are being taken care of the way they should be. There are several different places to get candy to give to the little gobblans children that come to trick or treat. Here are a few places: Fair Trade - Candy Blog The Green Guide - Fair Trade Halloween Candy There are also tons of other things that can get you in the spirit this "Fair Trade Month" season - my friend Siel at GreenLAgirl has all the details on other Fair Trade swag for the season. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, fair trade month Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Fair Trade Month 2008

The month of October is Fair Trade Month - a time when we can get together to act and to spread the word of Fair Trade and how it can help change people's lives - literally. Fair Trade stretches far beyond coffee. While coffee is probably the medium that most people look at Fair Trade through, it is much more than that. From fruits to flowers and from crafts to jewelery and clothing, the list goes on and on. The Fair Trade Movement is not only about setting fair prices. It is about Fair prices, Fair labor conditions, Direct trade, Democratic and transparent organizations, Community development, Environmental sustainability You can read much more about all of this at Transfair USA. Transfair USA also gives us 12 ways to get involved during the month of October: Vote. Every Fair Trade purchase you make is a vote for a better world. Vote with your dollar, look for the Fair Trade Certified label, and buy Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate, rice, sugar and other products whenever you shop. Check our website to find out Where to Buy Fair Trade Certified products at over 40,000 retailers nationwide. ASK.If you don't see Fair Trade products in your favorite coffee shop, restaurant or grocery store, ask for them! Fill out a comment card or talk to a store manager. Businesses respond well to consumer demand for sustainable goods. When you register to host an event, you’ll receive handy business-size Action Cards and other tools you can use to promote Fair Trade in your community. DONATE. We rely on your tax-deductible contributions to TransFair USA to be able to continue our work with farmers and farm workers in some of the poorest communities around the world. HOST. Fair Trade House Parties, film screenings and product tastings are great ways to raise awareness and educate others in your community about the importance of Fair Trade. We offer tools and materials to help you host a successful and fun event! Be sure to register your event with us so we can support your efforts. Check out our Online Events Calendar to get involved with Fair Trade activities going on near you. JOIN. Sign up to join our online community! Keep abreast of new Fair Trade products, creative promotional campaigns, and Fair Trade's impact on farmers. Click here to subscribe. Also, we invite you to be our friend on MySpace or Facebook! CELEBRATE. October is Fair Trade Month, and World Fair Trade Day happens every 2nd Saturday in May. Join the Fair Trade movement and promote Fair Trade during these special times. We sponsor lots of fun activities, from art contests to coffee give-aways to school curriculums. You can apply for a mini-grant to support your organizing efforts. LEARN. Read about why Fair Trade is needed and how Fair Trade impacts farmers, farm workers and the environment. On our website you'll find background information, media articles, fact sheets, and links to other great organizations. INTRODUCE. Bring Fair Trade to your high school or college campus! From hosting Fair Trade Fairs to gathering hundreds of petitions, students have been at the forefront of the Fair Trade movement, raising awareness and bringing Fair Trade to hundreds of schools across the country. Get involved at your school today! START. Get involved with a local Fair Trade group and work to make your community a Fair Trade Town! There be an active Fair Trade Group near you, but if one doesn't exist, it's not that hard to start one! Our website offers helpful contacts for groups from Brattle boro to the Bay Area and plenty of examples of how other people just like you have done it. FUNDRAISE. Sell Fair Trade products as a fundraiser for your school, church or community group. Learn about companies that offer special Fair Trade fundraising programs. GIVE. Fair Trade products - chocolate, handicrafts, and sports balls!-are a great way to give meaning to birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other gift-giving traditions. SERVE. Enjoy Fair Trade products like tea and coffee at your place of worship. Thousands of faith groups across the country are active in selling, serving and educating about Fair Trade in their congregations, as a tangible way to live out their values and make a difference for the world's poor. Over the next few weeks, we will be talking about all things Fair Trade and the things going on during the month. I hope this is a time that we can use to learn more about the movement and what it all means to us and to the people in other countries. There are events going on all over the place that you can be a part of. Bookmark this page and click the events tab to keep up to date! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, fair trade month Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!