Every Party Matters, Every Purchase Matters

TransFair USA hosted a sustainable party to launch it’s new name and brand identity, Fair Trade USA, and kickoff National Fair Trade Awareness Month* last night. Appropriately, the double celebration was held at Temple Nightclub- one of greenest nightclubs in the nation. Temple Nightclub combines modern design with decor dating back to the 11th Century, has an extensive composting and recycling program, has an on-site garden for their restaurant, and is energy efficient.

The Fair Trade Month Kickoff Party powered by Trendy Lime featured local artisans who are making a difference for the earth and farming communities by certifying their products with Fair Trade. Each vendor brought their products for the 250 supportive guests to enjoy, while mingling and dancing to global music. Guests sipped on Fair.vodka drinks created by Danny Ronen. The most interesting cocktail was the FAIR. Indian Summer, which was made from Numi Organic Ruby Chai Tea infused FAIR. Quinoa Vodka, organic and unfiltered apple juice, organic agave nectar, fresh lime juice and a touch of egg white. FAIR.Vodka is a Quinoa-based vodka and works directly with communities of small independent farmers that transmit their land from generation to generation.

250 guests came out to support the Fair Trade movement

Fair.Vodka

The party was a high-quality chocolate and tea lover’s dream. The cleverly named Fair Trade company, Alter Eco Fair Trade sampled their Dark Chocolate Quinoa candy bar and even gave away their 3.5oz bars for guests to enjoy later. The chocolate packs a delicious, crunchy punch. The chocolate is made with whole ingredients, not natural flavorings, preservatives, or additives. Alter Eco also sells Fair Trade quinoa, rice, sugar, and olive oil. Another local chocolate artisan that won my palate was Coco-Zen. Based on the philosophy that all things are connected, Joyce Kushner hand makes all of her truffles using only sustainably sourced ingredients. My favorites were the Chocolate Chai Spice and the Chocolate Mint (vegan).Other delicious and gratifying chocolate vendors included Divine Chocolates and TCHO.

Alter Eco Quinoa Chocolate

Coco-Zen Truffles

To offset the chocolate, Weaver’s Coffee and Traditional Medicinals provided their beverages for guests to sip on and take home. Weaver’s Coffee provided hand-crafted, artisan coffee and tea, with a bag of roasted beans to take home. Traditional Medicinals had their herbalist on hand to explain the difference between medicine-grade and food-grade herbs. Each guest generously got to take home a box (or two) of their sampler teas. La Yapa sampled two varieties of their “quinoa with a cause.”

The nightclub was also decorated with Fair-Trade plants and flowers!

Guests were also entered in multiple raffles to win prizes from Mark Skin Care, Fair.Vodka, a bamboo box set of tea, HAE Now Fair Trade Organic Cotton Clothing and Tompkins Point Apparel, and Fair Trade sports gear.

*October is the seventh annual Fair Trade Month. Fair Trade Month unites Fair Trade USA’s diverse corporate, nonprofit and individual stakeholders in more than 100 events, promotions and fund-raising activities across the United States to generate awareness of Fair Trade’s comprehensive approach to social, economic and environmental empowerment and sustainability among farming communities in the developing world. Find out how you can get involved and or what small changes you can make to support the movement here.