More NE Ohio Fair Trade Organizations Offer Products and Support

1. Kantara Crafts in Oberlin 

A Fair Trade organization exports rugs to our country from Peace Corps coops in Morocco. This Fair Trade organization also reinvests some of its proceeds into Moroccan non-government entities who promote education and literacy.

2.  Mayan Hands of Napoleon

Mayan Hands Fair Trade organization sells the handwoven textiles, which include purses, place mats, potholders, and scarves. The Mayan women also earn a fair and regular income, helping them to get out of poverty. 

3. Illuminating Nations Through Opportunity of Oberlin

Illuminating Nations Fair Trade organization was founded by Oberlin students Francesca Barbee and Malisha Richardson. INTO provides wholesale fair trade products such as bags, ponchos and scarves to local businesses, which were made by artisans from Equador.  INTO Fair Trade organization also offers financial  education to the artisans it works with and education programming in the U.S.

4. Cleveland Amani Bead Collectivo in Cleveland

Cleveland Amani Bead Collectivo Fair Trade organization creates jewelry using beads that would normally be thrown away by women in Kenya. 

5. Esperanza Threads located in Bedford, Ohio 

This organic apparel Fair Trade organization employs low-income individuals in Northeast Ohio and offers sewing training to inner city Cleveland women who may want to start a small business. 

According to the Fair Trade Labeling Organization, there are about 632 fair trade-certified producer organizations in 58 countries that represent 1.5 million farmers and workers in 2007.  Fair Trade organizations offer fair wages to its workers in low income countries and sells their handcrafted items throughout the world.

Tags: Fair Trade Goods, Fair Trade Organizations