Jun 27, 2011

Committee Seeks More Fair Trade Products in Local ShopsBy Jennifer PintoTeaneck.Patch.com

A recent petition campaign launched by the Fair Trade Teaneck Steering Committee aims to get the signatures of 1,000 area residents in order to make the case to Teaneck businesses that township shoppers want more Fair Trade products.

The committee, which earned Teaneck its designation of Fair Trade Town in October, embraces the global movement of providing merchants and farmers with fair wages and safe working conditions in exchange for their promise to follow environmentally friendly practices and eliminate child slave labor, organizers say.

The Fair Trade Teaneck committee recently posted their petition online, and last check had 35 signatures. Committee member Louis Osman said he was a little disappointed that the number wasn’t higher, but he said he’s confident that the number will climb as word spreads about the petition and the reasoning behind it.

“We think that the petition will get the residents involved and will help get the attention of retailers,” said Osman, who added that businesses are more likely to make changes if they see that there are customers who’ll patronize them.

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