How sweet it is! Concordia expands its support for ethical food production

SEPT. 25-29: Fair Trade Campus Week builds awareness with bake sales and a film screening

September 21, 2017

By S. Baker

It’s easy to take sugar for granted. But our addiction to the sweet stuff comes at a cost: namely, poor working conditions for millions of small-scale farmers and plantation workers in developing countries.

Our food choices can make a world of difference.

From September 25 to 29, Concordia will be celebrating Fair Trade Campus Week to raise awareness of the benefits of fair trade. At the same time, the university has announced it will switch to 100 per cent fair-trade sugar.

Fair Trade at Concordia

For two years now, Concordia Food Services and student-run cafés such as The Hive Café, Café X, G Lounge and Le Frigo Vert have committed to offering 100 per cent fair-trade coffee, three types of fair-trade teas and one type of fair-trade chocolate in non-franchised campus outlets.

Last year, these actions led Fairtrade Canada to recognize Concordia as Canada’s 17th Fair Trade Campus.

Concordia’s sustainable food system coordinator Isabelle Mailhot-Leduc says Concordia is committed to supporting ethical food production. “We will continue to go above and beyond the designation requirements and to cultivate responsible consumption patterns at the university,” she says.

Along with committing to fair-trade sugar, Concordia’s Food Services also began selling fair-trade bananas across campus this January.

So how can you make a difference?

First, opt for products that have been certified as fair trade (see left). Next, get informed, and help organizations like Fairtrade Canada raise awareness.

Check out these events taking place during Fair Trade Campus Week:

Outdoor film screening: Banana Split

WHEN: Tuesday, September 26, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: FOFA Gallery courtyard

Canadians eat three billion bananas each year, but pay very little for them, despite the nearest banana plantation being 5,000 kilometres away. Learn about the rise and practices of the United Fruit Company/Chiquita.

Free fair-trade snacks will be offered by Concordia Food Services during the screening. In case of rain, the event will be moved indoors to VA-323.

World’s largest fair-trade bake sale

WHEN: Thursday, September 28, noon to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Three locations: In front of Starbucks (LB Building, Sir George Williams Campus), at the Green Beet (Hall Building, Sir George Williams Campus) and at the Market (SP Building, Loyola Campus).

Campuses and other groups across Canada will join forces to celebrate fair-trade farmers and workers by making baked goods from fair-trade ingredients. Proceeds will go to support education and awareness in Canada, and community development projects through producer partners in the Global South.

For more information, visit the fair-trade bake sale website.

Learn more about the sustainability efforts of Concordia’s Food Services.

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