Fair Trade is about more than the price of coffee. It’s a long-term commitment to improving lives.

Poor harvests, increasing demand, and speculators are pushing world coffee prices higher than the minimum safety-net price guaranteed by Fair Trade. Nevertheless, support for Fair Trade is more important than ever. The Fair Trade system works to strengthen farmer cooperatives and provide direct access to markets, cutting out middlemen. The cooperatives also invest in the health and welfare of their communities, and promote eco-friendly farming. This Fair Trade infrastructure will safeguard communities when prices fall again.

Buy Fair Trade coffee

and chocolate March 17/18th

St. Mary’s makes it easy for you to do the right thing, by selling high-quality coffee and chocolate at nearly wholesale prices. Sales are also planned for May12/13th and June 9/10th 2012. Watch the bulletin for announcements. We usually sell after Saturday 5 p.m. and Sunday morning Masses. Come early to buy coffee and chocolate before 12:30 p.m. Mass.

St. Mary’s buys Fair Trade coffee for all parish needs as part of our commitment to economic justice and Catholic Social Teaching. The very small profit we make on sales is used to subsidize this extra cost.

Can you help with Fair Trade sales after one Mass? Contact St. Mary’s Fair Trade ambassador Deb Caskey at dcaskey@cox.net or 703-222-1087.

Need more information? Contact Deb Caskey or go to www.crsfairtrade.org.