ftrn.org is an information hub designed to grow the fair trade movement. together, we can create a market that values the people who make the food we eat and the goods we use.

FTRN Publications

Stay connected:

  1. Booksfor adults or kids
  2. Webinars - join upcoming webinars on key issues within Fair Trade, or watch recordings of past webinars
  3. Power Point show – free to download and customizable
  4. Other publications T-shirts, flyers, posters, postcards, stickers, event planning, and a photo exhibit

Books


Overview of the Fair Trade Movement – Booklet

An Overview of Fair Trade in North AmericaBy FTRN, published Nov 2011 ~ 34 pg. booklet ~ High school & above ~ $3.95 retail, $2 wholesale or bulk (10 or more copies). Hard and soft copy includes password to edit and copy the Power Point presentation of booklet highlights!

FTRN says: “A quick read offering a comprehensive overview of the North American Fair Trade movement. The definitive booklet on Fair Trade’s various models, success stories, major names, facts and figures, brief history and key challenges and opportunities.”

Summary/review: This publication will help readers:

  • Understand how Fair Trade relationships in over 60 developing countries enhance the quality of life of producers and their communities.
  • Interact with a global community taking action to ease inequities wrought by traditional trade structures.
  • Navigate the complicated world of organizations, labels and definitions of Fair Trade.

Buy it from FTRN

This booklet was supported by the following sponsors:

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps ~ Once Again Nut Butter ~ Fair for Life ~ Fair World Project ~ Ganesh Himal ~ HandCrafting Justice ~ Ten Thousand Villages USA ~ Theo Chocolate


Introduction to Fair Trade – Kids Book

Think Fair Trade First!

By Ingrid Hess, published February 2010 ~ Ages 3-8 ~ 40 color pages 8×9 inches, softcover book ~ $12.99 retail plus shipping. Wholesale rate available by contacting FTRN.

FTRN says: “A fun educational read and a joy to look at, this book is a rare and engaging Fair Trade resource for kids aged 3-8. Younger children can search for the ladybug on each spread, and listen to or read the fictional story. Older children can also read the nonfiction sections on each spread.”

Summary/review: Stella & Henry are on a mission to find the perfect gift. With help from Aunt Mabel, the two children discover the world of Fair Trade and learn how shopping wisely can improve people’s lives.

“Think Fair Trade First!” explains Fair Trade’s comprehensive approach to business and development with fun, educational content for kids and grown-ups alike. A great find for teachers to explain how their students can make the world a better place.

~ Carmen K. Iezzi, Executive Director, Fair Trade Federation

Buy it from FTRN

Download free Scavenger Hunt guide to use with this book.


Retailer’s Guide – Booklet

A Guide for Retailer’s: Creating a Successful Fair Trade Business

By Kimberly Grimes ~ 42 pg. booklet ~ For those starting FT businesses ~ $4.95 retail / $3 wholesale plus shippingFTRN says: “Based on personal experiences from more than 75 diverse shops around North America, this is a must-read for anyone starting a Fair Trade business.”

Summary/review: Filled with practical, proven advice from a variety of Fair Trade entrepreneurs, the Guide for Retailers is will help any new Fair Trade business owner dedicate his/her business aspirations in the service of Fair Trade principles. It provides step-by-step guidance for necessary preparations, building a successful foundation, and enjoying the benefits of a well-run Fair Trade business.

Buy it from FTRN


Amazon Story – Kids Book & CD

A Journey In the Amazon

By Marco Hernandez & Kimberly Grimes ~ ages 10 & up, CD for all ages ~ Fundraiser for the Amazon Nut Project ~ Retail Prices: CD set $22 / Book $15 / Book & CD set together $35 plus shipping ~ Wholesale Prices (3 or more copies): CD set $15 / Book $7.50 plus shipping

FTRN says: “A wonderful read and a joy to the ear, this CD set and book supports Amazonian farmers who strive to provide for their families while preserving the ecological balance of the rainforest.”

Summary/review: Features the smooth rhythms of Bossa Nova of the Brazilian coast to the ancient pipes and strings of the high Amazon jungle, plus a CD with sounds of jungle animals recorded at night. The wonderful “children’s” book of the same name teaches us all, young and old, about the rainforest, its riches and its needs. Traveling down the Amazon is a journey we all need to take, in words if not in canoes, to understand the rich diversity of our planet and why it is at risk.

Buy it from FTRN

Webinars on Key Issues


Upcoming Webinars

Join upcoming live webinars and ask questions to panelists! All registrants also get a recording of the webinar.

Register for upcoming webinars

Webinar #123

June tbd: What is the State of Fair Trade & the Movement?

Panelists:

  1. Jeff Goldman, Fair Trade Resource Network, Executive Director

Register for Webinar 123

Other webinars

1-2 webinars are being planned for each future month. New webinars are announced around 1-4 weeks ahead of time.


Recordings of Past Webinars

Produced by FTRN, recordings of the audio and visual content of past webinars are available as Windows Media files ~ recordings cost $5 during the first month after the live webinar, and are free after then.

A separate news post for each webinar lists key insights from the webinar, at FTRN news on key issues.

Listed from most recent:

Webinar #122 – recorded May 7,2012:  How Should, or Shouldn’t, Fair Trade Be Applied to Producers in Developed Countries?, 50 min. ~ $5 at Webinar 122 recording

Webinar #121- recorded February 14, 2012: Should Hired Labor Plantations Be Included in Fair Trade? ~ free at Webinar 121 recording

Webinar #120 – recorded January 31,2012: Should Unorganized Farmers Be Included in Fair Trade?, 50 min. ~ free at Webinar 120 recording

Webinar #119 – recorded December 16,2011: A Community Discussion of What Fair Trade USA Leaving Fairtrade International (FLO) Means for Producers and Fair Trade-Part 3 with FLO, 50 min. ~ free at Webinar 119 recording

Webinar #118 – recorded November 1,2011: A Community Discussion of What Fair Trade USA Leaving Fairtrade International (FLO) Means for Producers and Fair Trade-Part 2 with a Producer Leader, 50 min. ~ free at Webinar 118 recording

Webinar #117 – recorded October 12, 2011: A Community Discussion of What Fair Trade USA Leaving Fairtrade International Means for Producers and Fair Trade-Part 1 with FTUSA, 50 min. ~ free at Webinar 117 recording

Webinar #116 – recorded September 21, 2011: How Strong Are Labor Rights in Fair Trade?, 50 min. ~ free at Webinar 116 recording.

Webinar #115 – recorded August 4, 2011: Assessing the Impacts of Fair Trade for Producers, 50 min. ~ free at Webinar 115 recording

Webinar #108 – recorded April 5, 2011: The State of Fair Trade, 55 min.~ free at Webinar 108 recording

Webinar #106 – recorded February 28, 2011: Minimum Fair Trade Content Standards for Multi-ingredient Products, 50 min. ~ Free at Webinar 106 recording

Webinar #105 – recorded February 9, 2011: A Community Discussion of TransFair’s Name Change to Fair Trade USA, and Pending Service Mark Application, 50 min. ~ Free at Webinar 105 recording

Webinar #104 – recorded December 16, 2010: Producer and Brandholders Compare “Fair for Life” and “Fair Trade Certified”, 1.5 hours ~ Free at Webinar 104 recording

Webinar #103 – recorded December 6, 2010: Comparing “Fair Trade Certified” and “Fair for Life”: Label Use, System Governance and Benefits to Producers, 1.5 hours ~ Free at Webinar 103 recording

Power Point show

Use or customize the only free Power Point show available on an overview of Fair Trade in N. America.


Overview of Fair Trade in North America

Download FREE Power Point file by clicking here

Updated October 2011 – Power Point presentation of an introduction to Fair Trade in N. America. The file is free to download and view. 39 slides are shown in an 8-minute show, free to open as Read-Only file, size 9.1 MB. Get a copy of the booklet, or PDF file, to access the password (at the bottom the Table of Contents) to edit and copy the Power Point file. Please attribute proper credit to FTRN and others if you create a new file.

Other Publications


Clothes

T-Shirt

$15 for M, L or XL size, or FREE for each World Fair Trade Day event organizer!

Fair Trade Certified shirt produced by Fair Trade Apparel in Bangladesh.

Front of shirt has “do you Trade Fair?” printed vertically from bottom to top.

Back of shirt has the following text printed: Trading Fair / helps the people who grow our / food and produce our goods build / secure and rewarding lives. / FTRN.org

Order from FTRN


Handout Sheets

woman-preparing-newspaper
Download and copy these FREE 1-4 page handouts:

What is Fair Trade? | History of Fair Trade

Identifying Fair Trade Products

Free Trade Is Not Fair Trade | Producer Stories

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Fair Trade

How to Get More Involved in Fair Trade


Event Planning

Free Event Planning Guide

Full of Fair Trade activity ideas, a checklist for organizing an event, and resources to use at your event.

Tips for hosting fashion shows, speeches, food and drink tastings, film showings, sports games, neighborhood crawls, spa nights and more!

Download Event Planning Guide


Photo Exhibit

From One Farmer to Another: Postcards in Solidarity (Indian Tea Growers & Guatemalan Coffee Growers)Produced by FTRN, photography & design by Ida Benedetto ~ 28-piece mounted exhibit ~ For stores, conferences, schools, faith communities, libraries, restaurants, town halls, etc. ~ $150 rental fee / plus shipping

FTRN says: “Focused on Indian tea growers and Guatemalan coffee growers, this exhibit brings viewers images and handwritten postcards that illustrate daily life, common struggles, and shared hope that fair trade brought to these communities. Learn how these communities put violent struggles behind them and now utilize fair trade business relationships as the means by which they fight for justice in their lives. These two distinct communities, who speak different languages, live on different continents, and practice different religions, have more in common than they ever imagined..”

Summary/review: This exhibit will help viewers:

  • Understand how Fair Trade relationships enhance the quality of life for producers, their families and communities, and how women realize a disproportionate benefit.
  • Interact with a global community taking action to ease inequalities wrought by traditional trade structures.
  • Observe a rare exchange between Fair Trade producers on different continents.

Rent exhibit from FTRN