Renewal friends and SVI alumni La Siembra recently shared their perspective on the growing fair trade sector.

In 2008 the market continued to support and encourage the adoption of fair trade and organic products. Fair trade is becoming increasingly main stream and is increasingly being found in mass market stores across the continent. While this presence marks success for the fair trade movement an equal marker of success for the movement is the strength and capacity developed by producer partners. Over the year we have seen remarkable strides being taken by producer co-ops of cocoa and sugar to take greater ownership over processing their raw ingredients, adding value and increasing their participation in the supply chain. We view this as a great success and we have begun working directly with producer partners to import cocoa, sugar and chocolate directly from them.

As we look forward to 2009 the global economic crisis necessarily impacts the way we see the importance of equitable trade, democratic control and Canadian ownership. As the economic situation in Canada, with a low Canadian dollar and slower sales, affects La Siembra from a revenue and margin perspective, we also recognize at this time that cocoa and sugar producers have even more to lose. If consumers stop supporting fair trade in this moment of economic uncertainty then the future for commodity producers is bleak. The years spent building farms and infrastructure based on equitable trade dollars will no longer be supported. Producers will be increasingly challenged to stay on their lands and they may have no choice by to abandon their farms as they see the market for their products diminish.

La Siembra Co-operative is committed to ensuring the longevity of equitable trade. In a time of economic downturn it is as important as ever to support sustainable and equitable economic development.

3 things that you can do to support fair trade:

1. Buy Cocoa Camino  - Encourage your networks to purchase Cocoa Camino right now. We are locally owned, and Ontario manufactured on many of our products.
   Supporting Cocoa Camino during these difficult economic times not only supports cocoa and sugar farmers in the global south but it also supports manufacturing, trucking and office jobs across Canada.
2. Represent Cocoa Camino where you shop - Encourage the stores you shop at to carry Cocoa Camino and to place it in places where consumers will easily find it.
3. Invest in La Siembra this RRSP season and encourage others to do so too

Spread the word on the opportunity to invest in La Siembra. We currently have open offering statements in British Columbia and Ontario and one thing that would help La Siembra immensely is increased equity in our business to enable us to further improve our efficiencies and invest in direct supply chain relationships with producer partners.

It's a risky time to put investment dollars anywhere right now, including La Siembra. We commit to keeping investors informed as the economic reality that surrounds us unfolds.

Thank you for your support. It is with the support of consumers such as yourself that we will be able to continue to foster a model of equitable trade, while offering consumers fantastic chocolate products.