Page 35 - Flathead Beacon // 12.4.13

FLATHEADBEACON.COM
BUSINESS
DECEMBER 4, 2013 | 35

Fair trade is also an important concept for several
By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon
“THESE ARE GIFTS THAT JUST GIVE AND GIVE AND local cofee shops. Colter Cofee Roasting is listed as a
its and piece of the world lie nestled in a store-
GIVE. EVERYTHING HAS A STORY AND WE TRY TO partner with Fair Trade USA, along with Montana Cof-
fee Traders.
front on Kalispell’s Main Street; woven bas-
SHARE THAT STORY.” Irene Zuehlsdorf
Alison Chopp, production manager and green cof- kets from Ghana in West Africa, handmade
fee buyer for Montana Cofee Traders, said fair trade glass ornaments from Egypt, and other intri-
is part of her company’s business plan because it en- cate and beautiful goods line the shelves.
sures the cofee farmers are cared for, in turn assuring The selection of items available at First Choice D́-
a quality product.
cor is almost overwhelming in and of itself. But when

“We care about the farmers. That’s why it’s impor- the actual value of each item is considered, the store
tant to us, because if our farmers aren’t taken care of, takes on a whole new meaning.
our business sufers. We’re not going to get the quality First Choice D́cor sells only fair-trade items. This
that we want,” Chopp said. “Fair trade helps them hold means the person responsible for each craft or piece of
out for a price for them that’s livable.”
art sold in the store was fairly compensated for his or
Cofee Traders works with farmer cooperatives her work. For example, the baskets from Ghana, which
that determine a fair price for what it is costing them to are woven from indigenous grasses, take three days to

produce each hectare of cofee, Chopp said. About half complete, and the purchase provides a mother with in-
of Cofee Traders’ cofees are fair trade, she said, and come to feed, clothe and educate her children.
others are purchased through direct trade with some Another example could be the purchase of certain
farmers, which generally ends up costing the company glassware in the store that helps support Thai women
Irene Zuehlsdorf, owner of First Choice Decor in Kalispell, unloads more than through fair trade.
who have escaped sex slavery and are trying to make
a shipment of hand-woven baskets from Ghana and Senegal.
It’s worth the cost, Chopp said, because her com- their way anew.
pany knows the money provides food, education and It’s the added beneit of each purchase that keeps
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
security for the farmers they work with.
store owner Irene Zuehlsdorf enthused about her

“These are gifts that just give and give and give,” “Fair trade is deinitely important to us,” she said.
products and her mission to bring more fair-trade
Zuehlsdorf said. “Everything has a story and we try to In Kalispell, Zuehlsdorf said business has picked goods to the Flathead and to the valley’s consciousness.
share that story.”
up since she moved to the Main Street location last “We make sure that everything is fairly traded,”
Fair trade isn’t a new concept in the Flathead; Zu- June, though she believes there is much work to be Zuehlsdorf said of her shop. “Everything follows the
ehlsdorf began her eforts with the woven baskets nine done when it comes to educating the local population practices of fair trade.”
years ago, and has since expanded. The Mountain View about fair trade.
And while that generally means bringing in items
Mennonite Church in Kalispell has hosted its Interna- Many of her customers who understand the con- from around the world, Zuehlsdorf also sells pieces

tional Gift Festival since 1999, selling fair-trade gifts it cept are from out of town, Zuehlsdorf said, or are part from locals who might be struggling to make ends meet
receives via Ten Thousand Villages, one of the largest of the younger population. But there’s always hope, she here in the valley.
fair-trade organizations in the United States.
said; when she irst started selling baskets, she didn’t “It’s all the same thing,” she said.
Zuehlsdorf also put together a list of local shops fully understand the concept, but just knew she wanted As we hurtle forward in the holiday season, full of
that sell fair trade items, which consisted of many local to help.
presents and merriment, people like Zuehlsdorf hope
grocers, markets and retailers. There was also a local “I hope it catches on,” Zuehlsdorf said.
to remind shoppers that there are gifts they could pur-
efort to get Kalispell certiied with Fair Trade Towns [email protected]
chase that would have an extra layer of meaning be-
USA.
hind them.

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