Grocery Shopping Isn't So Simple!

Clothes.
Chocolate.
Tea.
Coffee.
Spices.
Fruit.
Sugar.

And all the while, trying to look for this label on products:

The topic of justice simply hasn't left my mind (or my heart) lately. I decided to try doing a bit of research online to see what I can do. I've been through phases where I've thought through all the atrocity going on in the world, and all the huge needs there are, and been overwhelmed to the point of not doing anything. {Where does one even begin?} But I've been on mission trips to Africa and Mexico, and I know the power of making a difference in just one person's life. (Not that I've only seen that principle played out in foreign countries, either.) My husband and I sponsor a little girl in the Philippines through Compassion, and it is at least one step in the right direction.

I recently read an article on CNN's website about child slavery and chocolate. In some countries, children as young as 7 years old are forced to work in cocoa fields for the chocolate industry. And the majority of these children have never tasted chocolate; most of them don't even know what cocoa is used for!

There's something wrong with this picture!

I figured one practical step we can take, at least in our family, is to be conscious of how the items we consume are produced, and to choose to only buy items that we know are not supporting child labor or other forms of injustice.

So we get to the grocery store, and the first aisle we walk into is full of chocolate. We notice that the chocolate we normally buy doesn't have a Fair Trade label, but we find lots of other options that are variations of the Fair Trade principle. They're a bit more expensive, but worth it. In the next aisle I reach for a package of tea. "Wait!" my husband says. "Do you know how this was produced?" No, actually I didn't know if this was a fair trade product or not. And I couldn't find any other kinds that seemed like better options. Maybe the one marked "Bio"? But what does that even mean? (It's becoming a popular thing in Germany, but no one knows if these special products actually have anything special about them or not!)

So began a not-so-simple grocery shopping trip. HELP! This is something I really want to be aware of and become involved in, but I'm blogging about it today because I realize I have no idea where to start.

Is anyone else passionate about this? Do any of you readers have experience in buying Fair Trade products (or making it a lifestyle?) We opted for the package of Bio noodles instead of the general brand, because we knew it was produced in Germany (it was obvious since it was 1.5 times more expensive). We bought yogurt and milk from a local farm. But it got really tricky when we were trying to decide on buying chicken and tea and spices and fruit and on and on and on and on...

Suggestions? Is looking into Fair Trade products actually the best way to go about trying to be intentional about social justice? We hear a lot about donating money to various causes, but it finally clicked in my mind that we can also help by not spending money on other things. I'm confused with all the labels and terminology that is out there - Bio, Organic, Fair Trade, Local, etc. And I never paid that much attention before when I was in Canada. Does Europe have different standards or "movements"?

We're attempting to re-orient our lifestyle––living (and especially eating) healthier, and being more aware. We want to take small steps to do what we are able to. But this is proving to not be such a small step, and I think we'll have to transition slowly.

So please, if you are passionate about this, or if you have some knowledge or experience of practical ways to be involved, please let us know! I would love if you left a comment (even if it was to join the conversation of the whole area of social justice), or shared a website or a blog or a book or an organization that you've found helpful. Or share with your friends and we'll discuss this together! Maybe if there are others who are also willing to look into this, we can help each other out and hold each other accountable.