By Daniel Steinberg, Community Brand Builder
Equal Exchange is geared up and ready for another fall season filled with exciting community events. We just finished our third year attending the Copley Square Farmers’ Market in Boston, and we are energized by the countless coffee drinkers and chocolate enthusiasts who want to support Fair Trade.
Besides the Copley Square Farmers’ Market, we’ve also made appearances at various events around the country. Traveling not only allows us to share stories about the big changes happening in our small farming communities, but we get to connect with amazing people who connect with our mission. People like:
• Travis Book: bass player and vocalist for the Infamous Stringdusters, a band nominated for the Nashville Music Awards Bluegrass Album of the Year and a fan of Equal Exchange Organic Love Buzz coffee!
“Equal Exchange and the Infamous Stringdusters share a vision of a sustainable future. A place where producers are paid what their product is worth, [and are] compensated for quality. This is rare in our subsidized culture; the true price of goods is rarely what's paid. The world economy is just that, the economy of the entire world and finding a way to provide for all members, not just those within our country’s borders and to do so in a way that's sustainable in the short and long term is a responsibility of all of ours. Not to mention the fact that the coffee is the absolute bomb!” -Travis Book
For more information on The Infamous Stringdusters visit their website.
• India Farmer, the Project Manager for the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link, a non-profit serving Rutland County, Vermont. According to India (a big fan of our Organic Panama Extra Dark chocolate bar), the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link’s mission is to create a viable, sustainable local food and agriculture system by linking consumers directly to our local farms. 
“Like Equal Exchange, the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link recognizes the importance our food decisions make on the farm families that work tirelessly to feed us. Supporting small, sustainable farms here in the Northeast and around the world, is a powerful act that each of us can take in the creation of stronger local communities, just food systems and a healthier planet.” -India Farmer
For more information on the Rutland Area Farm and Food link visit: www.rutlandfarmandfood.org.
• Hilde Steffey, the Program Director at Farm Aid. Equal Exchange is the official coffee sponsor of Farm Aid 2009. This annual concert, featuring musical performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Mathews, helps raise awareness about the loss of family farms and raises funds to keep farm families on their land. Farm Aid, a non-profit organization based in Somerville, Mass., also works year-round to support farm communities. Hilde is a valuable source of information about farming and farming culture, and many of the issues she tackles through her blog are the same issues that Equal Exchange tries to address through our work. 
"Here at Farm Aid we're working daily to ensure America's family farmers have a fair shot in the marketplace and the resources they need for their great ideas to take root and grow. Fairness doesn't seem like much to ask, but Farm Aid and Equal Exchange both know it's in short supply in our current food system. To keep us fueled and hard at work, Farm Aid staff love drinking Equal Exchange's Organic Mind, Body & Soul - though I'm thinking the new Organic Rabble Rouser may be the more appropriate fit!"
Check out Hilde's blog.
You, too, can meet Equal Exchange at a community event! Keep track of our travels by visiting our events calendar. We hope to see you soon.
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