Mariana Cobos, a farmer from a banana co-op in Ecuador, will join local organic farmer Josh Reinitz to discuss the impact of farming practices that are good for farmers, protect the environment, and still make a profit. The free, public event will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26 in the Jackson Campus Center’s Heritage Room on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College.
“Fair trade is a matter that everyone should be concerned with,” sophomore Fair Trade Gustavus member Annelise Cox said. “The unethical conditions under which many producers of goods we consume can be improved by learning and implementing fair trade practices.”
Cobos and Reinitz will explore the ethical implications of fair trade from their perspectives as producers and answer questions about their work in supporting sustainability and equity. The event, which is being hosted by the student group Fair Trade Gustavus, the St. Peter Food Co-op, and fair trade organization Equal Exchange, will include banana-themed snacks made with fair trade and organic ingredients.
“This is an important event for us because many people have questions about the fair trade process, what it means, how it affects them, and why it matters,” Gustavus administrator and fair trade advocate Margo Druschel explained. “By having fair trade farmers in attendance, we’re showing the human side of the process and making deeper connections that allow for a greater understanding of fair trade.”
Last year, Gustavus became the first college in Minnesota to be certified as a Fair Trade College/University by Fair Trade Campaigns. To learn more about sustainability initiatives on campus, visit the Gustavus Sustainability Resources website.
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