The Cal Poly Fair Trade club offers students the chance to help promote a sustainable environment and bring awareness in the fair trade industry.
The club, directed by Tom Neuhaus, who also created Project Hope and Fairness, is an organization aiding the prevention of child labor and fairness in the production of certain products throughout Africa.
The terms fair trade and free trade are easily confused, but the club stresses that its goal is to promote awareness regarding certain working conditions in third-world countries, club coordinator and business administration senior Skyline Lau said.
According to the Fair Trade Organization’s Web site, prices under a free trade policy are a reflection of true supply and demand and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. According to the site, free trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services amongst trading countries are determined by artificial prices that do not reflect the true nature of supply and demand.
“When you buy (fair trade) products, you know the people who made them are paid well (enough) to where they can afford some luxuries (like) health care, books and there is no child labor,” Lau continued.
Every year, Neuhaus travels to Africa, where 75 percent of the world’s cocoa products are grown, to help regulate fair labor agreements and analyze what villagers need to do to run their businesses more efficiently, Lau said.
“I traveled last year to Africa, and we were able to get more money and equipment such as machetes, food and clothing so they aren’t getting ripped off by corruption,” Lau said.
Although The Cal Poly Fair Trade Club is not a major organization yet, Lau hopes that by continuously promoting awareness to students on campus and hosting events in the community, people will be more involved.
“Our main goal for the club is to promote awareness, and our long-term goal is to host annual events and preferably bring more students to Africa,” Lau said. “It’s the students that have the will power, the time and energy.”
Cal Poly chocolates support fair trade organic products, and are purchased as chips made in Kenosha, Wisconsin through a company specializing in organic chocolate. The beans for the chocolate come from farmers in Peru and the Dominican Republic.
The club is always looking for new members to join and creates a unique learning experience in a global perspective, said club president and nutrition senior Brigette Bonfiglio.
“We’re always open to new people and new ideas, anything that might help us help the farmers and others facing the many inequities that they do,” Bonfiglio said.
One of the most important aspects of fair trade is knowing that the people growing coffee and producing chocolate are getting treated fairly and that the working conditions are fair, Bonfiglio said.
“Students should be aware of where your products come from and who makes it, and just knowing that you have the ability to help a global issue,” Lau said.
The Fair Trade Club meets from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursdays in the Food Processing Building, room 103.
A Fair Trade Festival will be held at Mitchell Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 2.