October is Fair Trade Month, so grab the kids and get started on your holiday shopping (or ditch the kids and grab a good book while drinking a cup of Fair Trade coffee!) Indianapolis is slowly growing in its involvement in the fair trade industry. With the growing number of coffee shops and gift stores in the city you can support better trade conditions and sustainability all while sipping on your latte. It feels good to do good!
Where to Shop
Global Gifts
One of the Circle City’s pioneers of fair trade and most well known spots to shop is Global Gifts. A locally owned nonprofit, Global Gifts is a great place to find gifts that are educational and culturally diverse. Home decor, clothing, coffee and tea, and toys and musical instruments all line the shelves of this unique shop. Founded over 25 years ago by members of the Indianapolis First Mennonite Church, Global Gifts is “helping consumers spend their shopping dollars in ways that benefit impoverished peoples around the world.”
Locations on Mass Ave in Downtown Indy, Nora Plaza, and Downtown Bloomington
Emayan
Boomerang BTQ on Mass Ave. carries items from local nonprofit Emayan, founded by Indiana University alumna Haley Loechel. 100% of profits from the sale of beaded jewelry and blankets go to the Tanzanian artists who made them.
Cafes Serving Fair Trade Coffee
Coffee is among one of the most exploited crops in the world, and Fair Trade organizations aim to empower coffee farmers which then enable these farmers to invest in higher quality crops while maintaining a fair compensation. Fair trade practices also prohibit child labor and forced labor. Buying and drinking certified fair trade beans helps people far beyond Indianapolis, so feel good about stopping into these local coffee shops!
Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Company
For an amazing cup of coffee visit the Fletcher Place cafe. Indulge in some baked goods from Circle City Sweets and take in your surroundings—local artists’ work is featured on the walls. To really see if your taste buds are paying attention, order a Calvin Pepper, a traditional cappuccino with honey and cayenne pepper. Yum.
7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, open until 9 p.m. First Friday of every month, closed Sunday, 647 Virginia Ave., (317) 423-9697, cfcoffeecompany.com.
Darrin’s Coffee Co.
Okay, two words: Nutella latte. It’s kind of a haul to Zionsville, but the creative menu offerings are totally worth it. According to their recent blog post, the business is expanding soon to include high end desserts and an array of bourbons.
7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, 120 S. Main St., Zionsville, www.darrinscoffee.com.
