Costa Rica is a botanical wonderland because it has hundreds of tree and plant species. Unfortunately, many of the forests are being cleared for timber and pasture land. Women of the Cloud Forest has created a line of jewelry that celebrates this diversity and provides economic incentives to protect the forests and assist the indigenous people of the rain forest make a living wage.

One Mango Tree uses a fair trade model to provide income generating opportunities for women in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas of the globe. The first project is now underway in northern Uganda, a region devastated by more than twenty years of armed conflict.

Paper-to-Pearls makes handsome paper bead jewelry and is made by hand by women in the internal refugee camps of Northern Uganda. Their work supports and gives guidance to women, youth and any group that has been marginalized from full participation in the economic, political and social life of their communities and countries.

Click below to view a longer video on the Ugandan Women who make the beads:

Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting environmental, political and social justice. Part of our mission is to successfully market fairly-traded products in order to (1) increase benefits for producers and consumers through economic fairness, mutual respect, and understanding, and (2) build support for a more sustainable system of trade. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Global Exchange abides by strict Fair Trade criteria, featuring products from around the world, with fair prices for consumers – and fair prices paid to producers.

Earth Divas believes fair trade is fundamental to everything they do.  It is the basis of the business and the primary purpose for doing business.   Their overall goal is to keep expenses as low as possible, produce as many items as they can, and return all profits to the artisans that make the items.   The more items produced, the more families employed in Nepal and India.

What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade means an equitable and fair partnership between global marketers and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world. A fair trade partnership works to provide low-income artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work.  

Our consumer spending choices affect people's lives around the world. The products we enjoy are often made in conditions that harm workers, communities and the environment. But increasingly consumers are demanding more humane, more environmentally sensitive products.

Not all of our suppliers are Fair Trade Fair Labor certified. But we feel they do wonderful things and support them. And like Greener Country, they are Green America members.

Greener Country is proud to be affiliated with such worthy organizations.