Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

We’ve just received the following press release from Canaan Fair Trade, a Shared Interest customer and producer of the only Fairtrade certified olive oil.  This really does illustrate what a massive accomplishment Canaan Fair Trade and Fairtrade in general have made in the region.  Congratulations Canaan!

Canaan Director Nasser Abufarha meeting with Tony Blair

Jenin, Palestine. November 19, 2009. Tony Blair, the economic representative of the Quartet, visited Canaan Fair Trade in the village of Burqin and pronounced it a showpiece of Palestinian economic development. Mr. Blair toured Canaan’s new $2.5 million facility on Tuesday, November 10. Canaan Director Nasser Abufarha met with the Blair delegation and presented the plant and products.

Canaan produces and exports premium olive oil and Palestinian foods made by the 1700 farm families of the Palestine Fair Trade Association. Within its first three years, Canaan became the largest exporter of olive oil from Palestine. Their products are sold in 12 countries around the world. More than $8 million in sales have come back to the farmers and the Palestinian economy in the last three years thanks to Canaan customers like Dr.Bronner’s Magic Soaps, and Alter Eco and Whole Foods in the US, Equal Exchange, Sainsbury, the Cooperative, and Zaytoun in the UK, Zatoun in Canada and DWP in Germany.

Dr. Abufarha said, “Economic development is a catalyst for peace in this region. Sound and fair economics can help our farm communities reach their potential and present creative venues for them to address their national and political aspirations.”

Canaan asked for Mr. Blair’s help in opening the doors for export business growth from the Jenin area by setting up measures to allow businesses to ship containers through the nearest checkpoint without hindrance and improper handling of food product by the Israeli security procedures. Canaan also asked to set up measures that would allow farmers to access their underground water resources currently denied by Israel.

Mr. Blair’s visit to the area was to inaugurate the opening of the Jalama checkpoint in the northern West Bank for the Galilee Palestinians to shop in Jenin. Commenting on the event, Dr. Abufarha said, “We hope that this beginning will lead to greater and more relaxed modes of economic and cultural exchanges between our people in Palestine and the Palestinians and Israelis across the barrier lines.”

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Zaytoun became a customer of Shared Interest in 2008. Zaytoun is a community interest company established in 2004 to support marginalized farming communities in Palestine. Palestine is the home of the olive tree, supporting over half the population and dominating the agricultural landscape. Zaytoun finds a market place for Palestinian produce in the UK.  As a non-profit company their primary objectives lie with the welfare of the producing communities. They invest in empowering farming communities and developing the agricultural infrastructure in Palestine.  Zaytoun work with an agricultural cooperative in Palestine called Al Zaytouna. They have met with the organizers of Al Zaytouna many times and formed a relationship based on work, respect and solidarity.  The aim of Al Zaytouna is to defend the olive tree and market its products. They work across the West Bank and are focused on working on cooperative principles to give the farmers a stronger voice, invest in agricultural infrastructure and access new markets for their olive oil.

As well as selling olive oil etc Zaytoun also organise Harvest tours for people who are interested in meeting and seeing the farmers in Palestine.Zaytoun have strong relationships with other Shared Interest customers such as Equal Exchange Trading and Canaan. The term loan that Canaan received from Shared Interest was used for a building and asset purchases, Zaytoun visited Canaan to see how the money had helped.

Heather Masoud was recently accredited for the Women in Ethical Business Awards.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Established in 1986 Equal Exchange Inc (EEI) have for a long time been pioneers in the fair trade coffee market. They offer coffee, tea and chocolate products from over 30 farmer cooperatives in 18 countries. They are now 93 worker owners strong, with a broader network that includes 400 loyal investors, more than 300 food cooperatives, hundreds of cafes and other stores, and more than a million consumers. 2008 was a very productive year for EEI. With a sales growth of 17% they experienced their most profitable year in their history, testament to the foundations laid and commitment of their knowledgeable team.

We have been working together with Equal Exchange, Inc since 1995. The facility we operate with EEI is a unique one. They operate a buyer line of credit for their fair trade purchases and also guarantee a line of credit for producers who either do not have access to a Shared Interest account or do not have enough credit available on their own line.

Working together, Equal Exchange and Shared Interest are helping to create sustainable fair trade businesses that allow producers in the developing world the ability to trade their way out of poverty.

If you would like to learn more about becoming a customer of Shared Interest, please click here to visit our website.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation

Fair trade shop, Fairdo’s, in Cardiff has recently started to sell fair trade cards with Welsh language greetings.  The cards, made by Cards from Africa, in Rwanda are a first for both Fairdo’s as the first Welsh language cards made for them by a company based in the ‘South’, it is also a first for Cards from Africa, who have never made cards in Welsh before.

Cards from Africa are one of fifty companies in Rwanda to receive training from the Shared Interest Foundation to support their business development.  For more on the cards available at Fairdo’s see here.  For more on Cards from Africa see here.

Click here to learn how you can invest in fair trade. Click here to donate to the Shared Interest Foundation