La Mesa Fair Trade Towns

"Fair Trade" Thursdays Begin At Cosmos
 Taken from La Mesa Today-January 20th, 2012
http://www.lamesatoday.com/

LA MESA -- Last fall, a group of people interested in encouraging local consumers to think about "fair trade'' practices went to the City Council and asked it to declare La Mesa a "fair trade'' city.
The issue seemed to come out of nowhere and was quickly voted down amid much angst and comment throughout the politically active parts of the city.
That experience clearly had an effect on Anne Pacheco, Nancy Ryan, Denise Thompson and other members of Fair Trade La Mesa.
Thursday evening the organization was back in action at Cosmos Coffee Cafe, presenting a DVD explanation of "fair trade'' practices and building local support one constituent at a time.
"All the coffee here at Cosmos is fair trade,'' Ryan explained to a gathering of 30 or so local residents who were eating "fair trade'' chocolate and learning about the movement Ryan and her partners hoped to demystify.
"It is simply about knowing that the things you purchase are made by people who are being paid a living wage, allowed to work in safe conditions and in a way that is respectful of the environment,'' Thompson explained.
Ryan and Pacheco, both educators in their work lives, admitted they were a bit bruised by their first attempt to convince the City Council to express the city's support for the movement and they don't plan on racing back to that forum. Critics convinced a majority of the council that the city would be dabbling in an issue beyond its authority and, in some views, tainting the free market with government interference.
"We won't go back until the council is better informed,'' Ryan said. "They need to understand this more fully.''
In the meantime, the local fair trade movement is winning the support of local organizations and individual businesses, trying to build a city-wide concensus that this city should express its support to the rest of the country and the world.
"Wouldn't it be a good thing for La Mesa to stand out on this?'' Pacheco asked in explaining why the council imprimatur is still important.
The group's pamphlets list more than 26 local businesses that have begun offering products that are certified to meet fair trade requirements, including big stores like Albertson's and smaller operations like Marcella June's Coffee Lounge.
"Every time you shop, the choices you make can make a statement about social justice,'' a spokesman on the DVD explained.
And from a taste tasting of "fair trade'' British KitKats being enjoyed this evening, the "fair trade'' KitKats taste just like the original.
The group plans regular Thursday evening events at Cosmos as they continue to meet with individual business owners and community groups.

Fair Trade Towns Campaign in La Mesa 2011
Fair Trade San Diego is excited to be working in full swing with our members in La Mesa on a Fair Trade Towns Campaign.  Located just east of San Diego, La Mesa is a smaller suburb with vibrant businesses, organizations and residents committed to the Fair Trade movement. For the past several months under the umbrella of Fair Trade San Diego, the La Mesa Fair Trade Towns steering committee has been reaching out to vendors in the community and already have several committed. Additionally, members have reached out to the media and have spoken at several non-profit meetings.


Events 

In October, during Fair Trade Month, La Mesa Fair Trade Town will spread the word about the campaign to the greater San Diego community with a media event. The Mayor of La Mesa already supports the campaign and has been asked to speak at the event

Campaign Status

The campaign is moving through the criteria, already having earned the badge for forming their Steering Committee, and aspires to become a Fair Trade Town by February 2012 to coincide with the city's centennial celebrations.