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What's New

• Costco has introduced Fair Trade hot chocolate in attractive ceramic canisters. The hot chocolate is supplied by Galerie au Chocolat of Montreal.
• President's Choice has introduced its own brand of Fair Trade chocolate. Available as milk or dark 100g bars, the chocolate is available in Zehr's Supermarkets for $2.49 / bar.
• Fair Trade oranges and bananas are now available at Zehrs on Bayfield St.
• GEAR (Georgian Students for Environmental Awareness and Research) are converting a bicycle into a coffee grinder to be used in conjunction with their Coffee Monday promotions of Fair Trade.
• A great new book Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart, Algonquin Books, provides a detailed look at the international flower trade. 80% of the cut flowers sold in the US (10 million flowers per day) are imported. 88% of these enter the US via Miami from Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Columbia. The flowers are extensively sprayed with pesticides and fungicides, many of which are illegal in Canada and the US. There is little to no protection for workers handling these flowers. The book describes the introduction of Fair Trade to this market. Note that Fair Trade flowers are available at A&P on Bayfield St.
• The A&P Bayfield Street store now sells Fair Trade flowers. Not all of their flowers are Fair Trade but this is an excellent start.
• Costco has expanded their selection of Fair Trade Coffee to include Van Houtte as well as Starbucks and Timothy's.
• Sandra Junkin, teacher at St. Joan of Arc Secondary School received the official designation as "Awesome Teacher" at a recent school assembly for her work in promoting Fair Trade.
• The City Of Barrie passed a motion to revise their purchasing policy to encourage the use Fair Trade products wherever possible. It will also encourage local Faith Groups, Schools and other organizations to use Fair Trade products.

See more news and events in 2008.