 |
For the second consecutive year, ENGAGE partnered with United Students for Fair Trade (USFT) to bring two Thai Fair Trade rice farmers on a two week speaking tour around the United States. Joining over four hundred representatives from more than a dozen countries, the tour kicked off with a week of activities in Boston, Massachusetts, at the USFT International Convergence. After the convergence, ENGAGE, along with the Thai farmers, took its message on the road to campuses and community groups in an effort to build both a sustainable market for Fair Trade rice and stronger relationships to support the work of Thai cooperatives. Through exchanges with farmers, students, businesses, and community representatives, the tour raised awareness about the economic alternative of Fair Trade and organic rice production.
The personal connections to rice producers created by tour events have led five colleges and universities (to date) to commit to purchasing Fair Trade Jasmine rice.
Speakers
Photos
Itinerary
February 13, 2007 – San Francisco, CA
10:00 a.m.
Brief tour of Global Exchange and ENGAGE offices
3:00 p.m.
Meeting with Daniel Stokes at TransFair USA
4:30 p.m.
Trip to Berkeley Farmers’ Market
5:15 - 9:00 p.m.
Dinner and Orientation
Travel to Boston, MA
February 14, 2007 – Boston, MA
10:00 a.m. -1:15 p.m.
Introduction to Equal Exchange, Tour, Cupping Session, Chocolate Tasting, Lunch
1:15 p.m.
Intro to Red Tomato (at Equal Exchange)
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Farm tour
5:00 p.m.
Return to Boston
February 15, 2007 – Boston, MA
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Exchange with International Producers, National Coordinating Committee, Advisory Board at Democracy Center, Harvard University
February 16, 2007 – Boston, MA
4:00 p.m.
USFT Convergence Registration and Setup
5:30 p.m.
Dinner
6:30 p.m.
USFT Convergence
Opening Ceremony
February 17, 2007 – Boston, MA
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Pi
Samrat and Paw Man lead workshop for USFT Convergence attendees: “Building Fair Relationships: The Universities Supporting Cooperatives Project”
February 18, 2007 – Boston, MA
Attend United Students for Fair Trade Convergence
February 19, 2007 – Boston, MA and Lewiston, ME
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Visit to Yell-O Glow Banana Ripener with Oké Banana (Boston, MA)
4:30 p.m.
Interview with Bates Alumni Magazine at Bates College (Lewiston, ME)
February, 20, 2007 – Brunswick, ME
8:00 a.m.
Visit Sustainable Bowdoin Organic Garden and Crystal Springs CSA
12:00 noon
Lunch and Introduction to Bowdoin Dining Services
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Fair Trade Dinner Menu and Exchange at Bowdoin College
Lancaster Lounge, Moulton Union
February 21, 2007 – Amherst, MA
Free morning in Cape Elizabeth and Portland, Maine
Travel to Amherst
6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Exchange with Humphrey’s House Cooperative, Amherst College
February 22, 2007 – Clinton, NY
10:00 a.m.
Depart Amherst
5:00 p.m.
Campus-wide Dinner and Exchange at The Annex, Hamilton College
198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY
February 23, 2007 – Chappaqua, NY
Morning
Winterfest – Cross-country Skiing/Ice Skating
Travel to Chappaqua
6:30 p.m.
Indian Vegetarian Feast with Raghavan family
February 24, 2007 – New York City, NY
NYC Sightseeing
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Event at Bluestocking Collective
172 Allen Street
February 25, 2007 – Washington, D.C.
Travel to Washington, D.C.
Dinner with DC ENGAGE Members and Friends
February 26, 2007 – Washington, D.C.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Brown-bag Lunch and Presentation at Co-op America
1612 K Street NW, Suite 600
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Dinner and Exchange at Georgetown University co-sponsored by Georgetown
Travel to Richmond, VA
February 27, 2007 – Richmond, VA
9:00 a.m.
Meeting with Representatives of Ukrop’s Super Markets, Inc.
12:30 p.m.
Dining Hall Roundtable: “Why Should Our Campus Buy Fair Trade?”
University of Richmond
3:30 p.m.
Classroom Presentation for Professor Mary Finley-Brock
University of Richmond
8:00 p.m.
Community Dinner and Presentation at Mom Siam Thai Restaurant
Travel to San Francisco Bay Area, CA
February 28, 2007 – Berkeley, CA
2:30 p.m.
Lotus Foods
Meet with co-founders Caryl Levine and Ken Lee
4:00 p.m.
Analysis and Wrap-up
7:00 p.m.
ENGAGE Bay Area Party at Grandma Mary’s Organic Farm
March 1, 2007 – San Francisco, CA
Daytrip to Massa Organics (California Rice Grower)
Farmers return to Thailand
