How will you celebrate “World Fair Trade Day” this year? It falls on May 10, and every year the mission of WFTD is to pay homage and create awareness of fair trade products, ideals, and practices.

Many organizations from across the globe create workshops, have conferences, hold fairs, and other events to gather people and start a discussion on what fair trade is, what it means, and how it is growing as a more humane form of labor.

What is fair trade?

Fair Trade simply means fair wages and fair labor. A more thorough definition can be had from TransFair, the agency which certifies a business as fair trade compliant: “Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.”

Essentially if you choose to use fair trade products, you are in essence supporting Fair Trade and all it stands for. Many farmers and artisans rely on your patronage to sustain entire families, not to mention safer and healthier working conditions.

To learn more on how to participate or promote World Fair Trade Day, visit the site.