Students of the Freeport High School's Human Relations Club took action this past Halloween to "be the change" for their annual "Reverse Trick or Treating" initiative. During lunch periods, students handed out samples of wrapped Fair Trade chocolates on informational flyers to raise awareness about poverty, unsustainable farming practices, and child labor in areas where cacao beans are grown, including Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana.
According to the New York Times, Americans consume nearly half of the world's chocolate. Fair Trade certification requires farmers to abide by international labor laws that prohibit illegal child labor. The certification also ensures that farmers receive a fair, stable price for their cocoa and use environmentally sustainable farming practices.
