Community Building in the Washington, DC area!!

SFP Editor: What is the fair trade federation and how did you get involved? Carmen Iezzi: The Fair Trade Federation is an international association of retailers, wholesalers, and producers who are fully committed to fair trade. Products produced and sold under fair trade terms constituent 100% of their work, because they recognize that business can be an effective tool in promoting development if it is based on fair terms. They strive to not only pay fair wages in the local context, but to support participatory workplaces, mitigate the environmental impact of production, supply financial and technical assistance, offer public accountability, build long term relationships with producers, and educate consumers about the choices that they have in the products they buy all the time. I was introduced to fair trade in grad school and then became a volunteer with the Ten Thousand Villages of Alexandria, where now I am the Vice Chair of their board and run their community outreach program. In October 2006, I started as the Executive Director of FTF.

SFP Editor: What is the fair trade federation and how did you get involved?

Carmen Iezzi: The Fair Trade Federation is an international association of retailers, wholesalers, and producers who are fully committed to fair trade. Products produced and sold under fair trade terms constituent 100% of their work, because they recognize that business can be an effective tool in promoting development if it is based on fair terms. They strive to not only pay fair wages in the local context, but to support participatory workplaces, mitigate the environmental impact of production, supply financial and technical assistance, offer public accountability, build long term relationships with producers, and educate consumers about the choices that they have in the products they buy all the time. I was introduced to fair trade in grad school and then became a volunteer with the Ten Thousand Villages of Alexandria, where now I am the Vice Chair of their board and run their community outreach program. In October 2006, I started as the Executive Director of FTF.

SFP Editor: What are the key issues the US faces regarding fair trade?

Carmen Iezzi: I believe there are two: first, consumer recognition of the choices and the power that they have. A wide variety of products are available from fair trade vendors, including clothing, coffee, home decor (like baskets, quilts, etc.), kitchenware, wine, gifts, chocolate, jewelry - even sports equipment. By choosing fair trade, individuals have the opportunity to make a deep and positive impact on a community. Second, as consumer consciousness about 'eco' choices grows, more companies seek to use environmental, fair trade, and other labels to offset the other less sustainable work that they do. Consumers should articulate an expectation that retailers and manufacturers, especially those who pitch themselves as responsible, commit more than 1 - 5 % of their product to better practices -- even if it does constitute 25-50% of their marketing.

SFP Editor: What can the average consumer do to support fair trade efforts?

Carmen Iezzi: For the next family birthday, housewarming, office party, or trip to the grocery store, visit sites like www.fairtradefederation.org and see what fair trade options can easily be ordered over the Internet. Next time your school, church, or community group needs a fundraiser, make it a fair trade one (FTF can tell you how). DCites can also choose fair trade in many local grocery stores (Whole Foods, YES Organic Market, Takoma Park Silver Spring Food Co-op, and others ), at stores like Chocolate Chocolate (Divine Chocolate) and Chocolate Moose (Aid through Trade) in downtown DC, at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Building Museum, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington National Cathedral, many of the Smithsonians, and more shops in the area. Where you don't find it - ask! We know that vendors respond to customer inquiries to stock fair trade products and you can recommend FTF as an easy source for their information.

SFP Editor: What do you hope to achieve at the fair trade conference on Friday?

Carmen Iezzi: We want this year's annual conference to offer both a platform for discussion of the opportunities and challenges facing fair trade, as well as practical seminars to help improve members' operations. We have some great speakers lined up from both inside and outside fair trade, as well as a exhibition of a few members' products.

SFP Editor: How can one become a member of the fair trade federation?

Carmen Iezzi: US and Canadian-based wholesalers or retailers who have been in operation for at least 180 days and strive to sell 100% fairly traded product submit an application and references that describe their business practices in depth. Then, our staff and a small group of current members evaluate the application for its compliance with our criteria and standards.

SFP Editor: Have you always worked in the fair trade arena?

Carmen Iezzi: This position is actually the first time I have worked in fair trade. Previously, as I mentioned, I served as a volunteer, but that was in addition to professional experiences as the director of alumni relations and assistant director of development for the School of International Service at American University and the assistant director of education and manager of outreach programs for the Atlantic Council of the United States. While a student, I also worked a NATO's Partnership for Peace and with the UN Development Program's Washington Office.

SFP Editor: What advice do you have regarding pursuing a career in this area?

Carmen Iezzi: Combining practical experience in both business and sustainable development will best prepare one for a career in fair trade. Such experience can be acquired through internships with groups like Equal Exchange, SERRV International, or Trade as One, by volunteering with Ten Thousand Villages, the Nicaraguan Cultural Alliance, or another local non-profit fair trade organization, or by running fair trade home parties with groups like Jolica or Pachamama World.

SFP Editor: Are there any fair trade organizations that stand out as the most innovative?

Carmen Iezzi: Cooperative Coffees stands out as pioneers in the field most people associate with fair trade: coffee. Not only are they collectively owned by 22 coffee roasters and fully committed to fair trade, but they have created important, amazing processes that change the lives of coffee farmers through training, fair compensation, and by bringing fair trade to more groups in the US and Canada.

I think that World of Good (www.worldofgood.com) are also great innovators in the field of fair trade. You can now find their product in most Whole Foods stores and some bookstores across the country - which has helped to bring fair trade to so many more people - and they do great work on the ground, especially in collaborating with artisans to create products that will appeal to North American consumers.

SFP Editor: What brought you to the DC area?

Carmen Iezzi: I moved to DC to study international relations at American University.

SFP Editor: What about DC do you find the most interesting?

Carmen Iezzi: DC combines so many elements - international, intercultural, political, historical - all in one big pot!