Coffee Impact

Fair Trade is supported by several companies and churches in Bridgewater. A lot of the energy has also come from students at Bridgewater State University. Above, members of BSU's Social Justice League pose with Gary Corseri, a manager for Sodexo, the university's food-service vendor, during discussions about the expansion of fair-trade food and beverages on campus. So far, that campaign has led to the expansion of fair trade coffee to two dining halls and one coffee shop on campus, and to its availability through campus catering.

Both Sodexo and the students realize that a lot remains to be done, but progress to date has been substantial, and led to SJL winning an Impact Award for the Student Affairs Division for the 2009-2010 academic year.

If BSU wins formal designation as a Fair Trade Campus, it will be a significant step toward Fair Trade Town status for Bridgewater itself.

Fair Trade Weekend in Boston, Quincy, and Bridgewater

Boston is celebrating its status as the 20th Fair Trade Town in the United States on Friday evening, September 10, from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Prudential Center Boylston Plaza. Meanwhile, over 750 people are expected at the largest-ever fair trade conference, being held the entire weekend at the Marriott Hotel in Quincy September 10 to 12.

Meanwhile, if you can't make it to Boston or Quincy on Saturday, I'll be giving a talk on Coffee and Migration (Human & Avian) at the Bridgewater Public Library at 11:00 on Saturday, September 11. Of course, fair-trade coffee will be served and available for sale by the pound as a library fund-raiser.

Boston becomes Fair Trade Town #20

Led by an interfaith coalition and bringing together a wide variety of local and national partners, the City of Boston has become a Fair Trade City, the 20th in a growing list of Fair Trade Towns and Cities across the United States.

With its growing interest in the Fair Trade movement, Bridgewater -- about 20 miles south of Boston -- could be joining the roster soon.