CAGAYAN de Oro consumers will soon join millions worldwide who support socially and environmentally conscious shopping.

The Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc (APFTI), together with Salay Handmade Paper Industries Inc (SHAPPI), will open the country’s second The Fair Trade Shop, Philippines in Cagayan de Oro Wednesday. This is the second of at least seven shops to be opened countrywide by early next year in a move to create a domestic fair trade market. The first shop was opened in Cebu in early August.

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Fair trade is a global movement, with estimated sales of approximately US$5 billion in 2008, averaging growth of 42% in the last 2 years. It is proactive poverty alleviation through innovative and high quality Philippine food and handicraft products. It provides opportunities to disadvantaged Philippine producers, provides fair and equitable working conditions, and helps address climate change, whilst generating profits.

Globally, there are more than 4,000 specialized Fair Trade stores or “Worldshops” and more than 100,000 points of sale that distribute Fair Trade products. These shops are generally found in developed countries in the North. The move to open The Fair Trade Shops in the Philippines allows Filipino consumers to be on equal footing as conscious consumers across the globe.

The Fair Trade Shop, Cagayan de Oro, is essentially a refurbishment and rebranding of SHAPIIs existing shop. Aside from selling SHAPIIs signature hand-made paper products that are sought out in the international market, the shop will sell high quality, premium fair trade products such as bakery & food pasalubong items, chillies, fruit jams, tablea, fashion accessories, home décor and wellness products like herbal tea and goat’s milk soap. These products are sourced locally and across the Philippines, boosting sales and support to local employment and economies.

Vicente Roaring, APFTI executive director, says: “APFTI follows the adage “It’s better to teach a man to fish.” However, we take it one step further by ensuring there’s enough fish in the rivers, and enough consumers who like to eat fish. By opening The Fair Trade Shop, Cagayan de Oro, we’re allowing small producers with skills to produce world-class products access to a market that is now asking for more responsible and environmentally-friendly products.”

Gabby Lopez, chairman of APFTI’s Board of Trustees, says: "We know that consumers have the power to choose and spend every peso in a way that favors communities and the lower segment of the economic strata. We know that [when consumers are] given the right information about fair trade, the majority will respond favorably.”

Neil Rafisura, general manager of SHAPII, says: "We are thrilled to introduce a new store concept to the public through the launching of second Fair Trade Shop in The Philippines, hoping this would educate and change the buying habits of the Filipinos towards social and ethical consumerism."

The launch of The Fair Trade Shop is part of APFTI’s three-year MaDe for Fair Trade Project otherwise known as “Domestic Market Development for Fair Trade,” jointly supported by Dutch funders ICCO and Cordaid.

Later this year, a Fair Trade Caravan will begin its journey across the country in a bid to raise awareness about responsible and fair trade consumerism to sophisticated buyers demanding more value for their money.

The Fair Trade Shop in Cagayan de Oro will be formally opened 3 p.m. at Door 108 Ground Floor, De Leon Plaza Bldg, Yacapin cor. Velez Sts, Cagayan de Oro (088) 8572550. Shop hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday.