Burlington, Vt. – The Queen City has always been known as “fair,” but this weekend it’ll be official. On Saturday, October 17 at Burlington City Hall, the committee for Fair Trade Burlington will formally announce Burlington, Vermont as a Fair Trade Town and declare their next initiative: To make Vermont the first Fair Trade state in the nation.

This Saturday, October 17, 2009,  the committee will host Vermont’s First Forum on Fair Trade Business, featuring six panelists from local businesses and organizations such as Healthy Living, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and the University of Vermont, as well as visiting Fair Trade coffee farmers from Guatemala.

TIME: 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Contois Auditorium

Burlington City Hall
149 Church Street
Burlington, VT 05401

DETAILS: Burlington City Hall on Saturday, October from 4:30 to 7:00 pm to celebrate Burlington, Vermont’s new status as a Fair Trade Town. This celebration includes displays on local Fair Trade businesses, organizations, and activities, an official declaration of Burlington as the 12th Fair Trade Town in the United States, and Vermont’s First Fair Trade Forum on Business, a panel discussion of six experts from the University of Vermont, Fair Trade retailers, coffee roasters such as VT Coffee Company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and Equal Exchange, and moderated by Michael Moser of the University of Vermont and the Vermont Honduras Partnership. Coffee farmers from Guatemala will also be visiting and available for questions, courtesy of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Public questions for the panel are welcomed and encouraged.

Agenda:
4:30: Displays of Fair Trade Activities
4:45 Introductions and brief statements
5:05 Burlington declared a Fair Trade Town
5:10 Committee member announcement of next goal
5:15 Opportunity to view displays, network and enjoy free munchies
5:25 Michael Moser introduces panel
5:30 Eli Lesser-Goldsmith of Healthy Living
5:35 Nick Reid of Equal Exchange
5:40 Melinda Haselton of Dolma Designs
5:45 Paul Ralston of VT Coffee Company
5:50 Ernesto Mendez of UVM
5:55 Rick Peyser of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
6:00 Public questions and comments, discussion with coffee producers
6:30 Visiting farmers, panel members and public interact
7:00 Closing of event

Light food and beverage will be provided by City Market. Members of the committee will be available for interviews before and after the discussion.

-Vermont Daily News report