Fair Trade Faithful

Many faith groups have long been supporters of Fair Trade, as they recognize the compatibility of this movement with their beliefs and mission aims. We are delighted that several local churches are backing our campaign to make Delmar a Fair Trade Town.

The following all have a long-standing committment to Fair Trade:

Delmar Reformed Church serves FT refreshments after services and has a not-for-profit FT sales table in the lobby, available to the public. DRC will host a Fair Trade Market with multiple vendors on Saturday, November 14, 11am-5pm. All welcome.

Delmar United Methodist Church also prioritizes the use of FT products for its congregation, and provides a monthly sale of Equal Exchange goods. There will be a Fair Trade Fair at the church with vendors from throughout the Capital District on Sunday, November 15, 10:30am - 2pm. All welcome.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church is another long-term Fair Trade supporter, with regular sales to the congregation of FT coffee and, most recently, chocolate. An annual Fair Trade market - The Work of Human Hands sale - will be held at St Thomas School after ALL of the masses at the church on the weekend of December 12 and 13 (5 pm on Saturday and 7:30, 9, 10:30 am and 12 noon on Sunday. Open to all.

With so many Fair Trade markets to choose from right here in Delmar, it should be easy to find wonderful FT gifts for friends and family this holiday season. There will be different vendors at each event, so why not attend them all!

Gifts that give twice

Last Shop Hop stop is...

Peaceful Inspirations
384 Kenwood Ave, tel: 439 6537




A great place to buy locally made or Fair Trade gifts, including jewellery and toys.

More than just lunch

Today's shop hop focus is on

Four Corners Luncheonette
2 Grove St, tel: 439-0172





Have a great meal at the cozy luncheonette, and follow it with a cup of Fair Trade coffee. Baked goods, snacks and FT coffee also available at Delmar Farmers' Market most Saturdays.

FT coffee to go

Today we're dropping in on...

Delmar Marketplace
406 Kenwood Ave, tel: 439 3936

You can pick up a Fair Trade coffee to go here - choose from a range of seasonal flavors: Autumn Harvest, Mountain Blueberry, Pumpkin Spice...

...or traditional Breakfast Blend.

And you can stock up on Newman's Own, too.

Perfect cup of coffee

Another stop on our shop hop tour is the:

Perfect Blend Cafe
376 Delaware Ave, tel: 439-6537





Order a Nicaraguan organic Fair Trade coffee - you won't regret it.

Perfect Blend supports many great causes, including raising funds in support of a high school education program in Belize.

Blown away at the Market

The rain held off on Saturday morning, but it was cold and windy and in the last hour at Delmar Farmers' Market awnings started to fly and the Fair Trade display nearly blew away. But it was still good to be there, at least 70 shop hop passports were distributed, and customers were seeking out our stall to get their passports stamped.

Church: Fair

Continuing our Fair Trade Shop Hop tour, today we visit...

DELMAR REFORMED CHURCH
386 Delaware Ave, tel: 439-9929














DRC has a long-standing committment to Fair Trade.

You'll find a wide range of Equal Exchange Fair Trade goods available at the not-for-profit stall in the lobby, including nuts, chocolate, cocoa and a variety of teas and coffee (whole-bean and ground).

Chocolate to live for

Today's feature venue is...

CYNDERELLA'S SUBS
406 Kenwood Ave, tel: 518-478-9122



...offering Life by Chocolate, handmade in Greenville, Greene County, NY. It's local, organic and Fair - and of course, delicious.

In the pink

Next stop on the Fair Trade Shop Hop trail...

DELMAR HEALTH HUT
282 Delaware Ave, tel: 518-439-7775

...offers a range of Fair Trade products, including coffee, Divine Chocolate and Dr Bronner's soaps.



Also, special for October - which is not just Fair Trade Month but also Breast Cancer Awareness Month - this organic, Fair Trade superberry pink drink.

Chocolate source

Around 100 Fair Trade Shop Hop passports were handed out on Saturday at Delmar Farmers' Market, so I hope the new bearers of them will be hopping and shopping for Fair Trade goods from all our vendors throughout this month.

For the next few days check in to this blog for pictures of our participating venues and some of the great FT products they are offering. Starting with...

JAVA JAZZ CAFE
318 Delaware Ave, Tel: 518-439-1727




Cute gift bags of delicious dark Equal Exchange Fair Trade chocolate.

Meet you at the Market

Come and support the Fair Trade Delmar Campaign at the Farmers' Market tomorrow: 9AM - 1PM at Bethlehem Central Middle School on Kenwood Ave. Pick up a Fair Trade Shop Hop passport and get it stamped at our stall, plus get ideas on other ways to celebrate Fair Trade Month throughout October.