October is both Co-op Month and Fair Trade Month,

so we’d like to tell you a little more about two pretty special companies you’ve probably noticed in the Co-op—Equal Exchange and Frontier. Both are co-ops and both have strong fair-trade practices…plus good food, of course!

Equal Exchange

Equal Exchange is a worker-owned co-op that collaborates with farmer co-ops and small farmer organizations to provide high-quality products to consumers like us while helping farmers gain control over their economic lives. Equal Exchange began thirty years ago with the modest goal of completely changing our food system (just kidding about modest). But the thing is, in their specialties of coffee, tea, and chocolate, they really have helped create change, and their work has spread to all the continents.

Check out their website at www.equalexchange.coop as well as this video. Their 2019 annual report in particular has several inspiring pieces about their work.

Frontier Co-op

Founded in 1976, Frontier is a member-owned co-op that sells organic herbs, spices, teas, and essential oils. Instead of individuals, though, its co-op members are the stores and organizations that sell Frontier products. Frontier’s emphasis is on organic and fair trade, plus giving back to the community, both in the United States and around the world. Frontier takes the Co-op Principle of “Concern for Community” very seriously, asking the communities where they source their products what the community needs. The results range from a dental clinic in Guatemala to a school in Vietnam to simply crucial pieces of equipment. Learn more about how Frontier Co-op gives back and watch this short video!