Park + Vine carries a variety of Fair Trade products, including coffee, chocolate and jewelry, from marginalized communities. In the spirit of World Fair Trade Day on May 10, we hand over this post to our friends at Divine Chocolate, who put the spotlight on farmer Comfort Kumeah.

May 10, 2008 marks the international celebration of World Fair Trade Day. From New Zealand to New York, World Fair Trade events are being organized to celebrate the creation of just and sustainable trading relationships between farmers and artisans in developing parts of the world and consumers through Fair Trade.

Comfort Kumeah

Fair Trade is an international system designed to build dignified trading relationships between consumers in the north and producers in developing countries. There are many farmers who benefit from Fair Trade. One farmer in particular, Ms. Comfort Kumeah.

Comfort Kumeah lives in the small town of Mim in the Ashanti region of Ghana. She is a member of Kuapa Kokoo cocoa growers’ cooperative and was recently elected the national secretary for the farmers’ union and the head of the farmers trust.

Comfort is a mother of five and a grandmother. She teaches at her local primary school as well as farming cocoa. Her classroom of kindergartners often exceeds 120 students. She works on the farm whenever she isn’t teaching, on Saturdays and during the school holidays.

“Before Fair Trade, we growers were cheated. People adjusted the scales. We got little money from the purchasing clerks and no bonuses. The growers’ welfare was neglected. I joined Kuapa Kokoo because I saw it was the only co-operative which could solve some of our problems; they trade without cheating, with the welfare of the growers at heart. There are many problems with poverty. During the lean season there is no money. Now there is a credit union we can borrow to keep our farms. The annual general meeting is also very good. Growers make their own decisions. . .”

Divine Chocolate, available at Park + Vine

Comfort is one of 45,000 farmers who make up Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Cooperative, the co-owners of Divine Chocolate. Comfort takes great pride in the cocoa she grows and the chocolate brand she owns. You can join Comfort in celebrating World Fair Trade Day by purchasing Divine and other Fair Trade products and inviting friends and family over for an afternoon coffee or tea. Visit the official World Fair Trade Day Web site to find events in your area.

To discover other Fair Trade products in other categories, check out TransFair USA’s Web site.