<h2>Fairtrade Fortnight May 1 to 15, 2014</h2> <table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px"> <tbody> <tr> <td><h2>Not All Bananas are Created Equally!</h2> <center><p><img style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="NotTheSame" alt="NotTheSame" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/NotTheSame.jpeg" /></p> </center><p style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: 100px"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 20px 10px 100px" title="FairTradeLogo" alt="FairtradeLogo" align="left" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/fairtrade_logo.png" />In the past ten years, the global price for bananas has nearly halved while the cost of production has doubled. These bananas may look the same on the outside, but look deeper at how they are grown and how they are sold and you will find a big difference.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><img style="MARGIN: 10px 50px 10px 10px" title="WhereTheyGrowThem" alt="WhereTheyGrowThem" align="left" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/Map.jpg" /><h2>Cheap Bananas are a threat to farmers' futures</h2> <p>By choosing Fairtrade bananas and other Fairtrade certified products, you are ensuring that farmers get paid a fair price for their products and can support their families and communities</p> <p>Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><img style="MARGIN: 10px 50px 10px 10px" title="TheyGrowThem" alt="TheyGrowThem" align="right" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/TheyGrowTheBananas.jpg" width="400" /><br /><h2>Our Bananas Are Grown By Special People</h2> <p>Many agricultural producers in Peru are living in poverty. Most banana farmers are riddled with debt from previous year crop loans. There is no opportunity for education or advancement, leading to a cycle of poverty. Our support of Fairtrade bananas gives a way for these people to build better lives.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(138,167,103)"><h2 style="MARGIN-TOP: 20px">BOS Salitral - The Growers Collective</h2> <p style="COLOR: white"><img style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 20px" title="BOS Gate" alt="BOS Gate" align="left" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/BOS.jpg" />BOS is an organic banana co-operative located in Salitral in the northern region of Peru. When you buy bananas from us, you are providing direct support to this group of small banana growers. Premiums pay for:</p> <ul style="LIST-STYLE-POSITION: inside; COLOR: white"> <li>Gender Equality Programs</li> <li>Healthcare and First Aid Training</li> <li>Earthquake Prepardness</li> <li>Cancer Education</li> <li>Agricultural Training</li> <li>Social Events</li> <li>Kids Summer Camps</li> <li>Microfinance Lending</li> <li>Harvesting Aids</li> <li>On-Farm Washrooms</li> <li>Farm Buildings</li> </ul> <br /><p style="COLOR: white" class="titleText">Learn more about <a href="http://www.bos-salitral.com/en/" target="_new">BOS</a> in our <a href="/featured-producer-profile.aspx?id=759" target="_new">Producer Profile</a> Section</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><h2 style="MARGIN-TOP: 20px">We have an excellent selection of Fairtrade and certified organic products to choose from.</h2> <p> </p> <table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(138,167,103) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(138,167,103) 1px; WIDTH: 600px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-TOP: rgb(138,167,103) 1px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(138,167,103) 1px"> <tbody> <tr> <th style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(138,167,103); WIDTH: 50%; COLOR: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Fresh Products</th> <th style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(138,167,103); WIDTH: 50%; COLOR: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Chocolates</th> </tr> <tr> <td style="WIDTH: 50%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10px"><ul> <li>Bananas</li> <li>Avocados</li> <li>Honeydew Melons</li> <li>Mini Watermelons</li> <li>Cantaloupe</li> <li>Passion Fruit</li> <li>Star Fruit</li> <li>Grenadilla</li> <li>Bartlett Pears</li> <li>Field Cucumbers</li> <li>Yellow Ginger Root</li> </ul> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 50%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10px"><ul> <li>Baking Chocolates (60%, 70%, 90%)</li> <li>Assortment of Chocolate Bars</li> <li>Camino Chocolate Bars (Almond, Milk, Bittersweet)</li> <li>Camino Hot Chocolates (Milk, Dark, Chili)</li> <li>Hedonist Hot Chocolate</li> <li>Roasted Cacao Nibs</li> <li>Chocolate Chips</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(138,167,103); WIDTH: 50%; COLOR: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Coffees</th> <th style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(138,167,103); WIDTH: 50%; COLOR: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top">Sweeteners & Spices</th> </tr> <tr> <td style="WIDTH: 50%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10px"><ul> <li>Anurakti Teas</li> <li>Runa Teas</li> <li>Earth Coffee to support UN World Food Program</li> <li>Fresh Coffee from Earth's General Store</li> <li>NXT Coffees from their Special Hot Air Roaster</li> </ul> </td> <td style="WIDTH: 50%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10px"><ul> <li>Dark Brown, Light Brown, Powdered Sugars</li> <li>Bulk Cane Sugar</li> <li>Sea Salt (fine, coarse)</li> <li>Black Pepper</li> <li>Mayan Sea Salt</li> <li>Mulling Spice</li> <li>Raw Blue Agave Nectar</li> <li>Unrefined Cocoa Butter</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><img style="MARGIN: 20px" title="FairTradeBumper" alt="FairTradeBumper" align="right" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/Bumper-sticker-EN-3.jpg" width="400" /><p class="titleText">Some Fairtrade Resources</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.fairtradeedmonton.ca/" target="_new">Fairtrade Edmonton</a></li> <li><a href="http://fairtrade.ca/" target="_new">Fairtrade Canada</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.fairtrade.net/" target="_new">Fairtrade International</a></li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2>A price break for you.</h2> <p>I have dug deep into our numbers and consulted with our producers. One of our fundamental values is to ensure that producers get paid a fair price for their products while still giving value to our members, so we have decided to implement a pricing structure that will allow our members to buy more of their groceries from us while seeing some price relief.</p> <p>Effective April 27, we will be introducing the following structure: </p> <ul> <li>Spend $50 or more on any single order: Free Delivery</li> <li>Spend $100 or more on any single order: Save $10</li> <li>Spend $200 or more on any single order: Save $25 </li> </ul> <p></p> <p>Please take advantage of this promotion - it is a permanent change and we will run it through the summer and fall in an effort to give everyone a chance to try more local products while still saving some money. I welcome your feedback so please feel free to write to me about any comments you have and I will give you my thoughts: danny.feedback@theorganicbox.ca.</p> <p>At The Organic Box we are always growing, always looking for ways to get better, and always trying to find ways to fill more of your shopping basket with Alberta and BC food producers. We can do it! You are helping!</p> <p>Havea Great Week!</p> <p>Danny.<br />Founder, The Organic Box.</p> <a name="featured"><h2>FeaturedProducts and Producers:</h2> </a><table cellspacing="15" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#edf0e9"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="FTBox" alt="FTBox" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/FTbox.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Fairtrade Boxes This Week</h2> <p>We are going Fairtrade crazy this week and it is awesome! Join us in celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight and enjoy a box full or Fairtrade certified fruits and vegetables. We have lots of delicious produce to try out, and lots of Fairtrade coffee, tea, chocolate, and spices as well! <br /><br />Try out the <strong>Fairtrade</strong> bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, passionfruit, grenadilla, starfruit, ginger, field cucumbers, avocados, and roma tomatoes!<strong> <br /><br /></strong>The social premiums that we pay for when buying FT products have direct positive effects on the farmers that they support. Whether it is rebuilding schools after a flood, providing healthcare for farm hands, or educating children with disabilities... our Fairtrade dollars make significant impacts. When you can, please consider purchasing Fairtrade. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="springdish" alt="springdish" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/springdish.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Spring Dish Time</h2> <p>We've been talking about the signs of spring for a while. It's just because we are excited about all the new and local products that are starting to show up in our warehouse. Many of them have very short windows of availability so now is the time to dive into some of them. Like the wildcrafted leeks, fiddleheads, and West Coast asparagus. If you're looking for some inspiration, check this out:</p> <p><strong>Fennel and Fiddlehead Salad</strong></p> <p>- Ingredients - <br />1 Fennel bulb - cored and thinly sliced<br />1 lbAsparagus- stemmed<br />1 cup ofFiddleheads- stemmed and blanched<br />2 cups ofCherry Tomatoes<br />2 Tbsp of Olive Oil<br />1 lb of Penne Pasta</p> <p>- Dressing - <br />4 Tbsp Olive Oil<br />4 Tbsp Lemon Juice<br />2 cloves of garlic - minced and roasted<br />1/2 tsp Dijon mustard<br />1/3 tsp Salt<br />1/8 tsp Ground Black Pepper<br />1 cup of Chopped Fresh Herbs (parsley, basil, chives, garlic scapes...)</p> <p>Heat grill to 400C. Place all veggies in a basket/wrap in tin foil and coat in olive oil. Grill for 30 minutes and stir 2-3 times. </p> <p>Cook pasta al dente. Whisk the dressing ingredients together. </p> <p>Drain pasta and combine with roasted veggies in a bowl. Pour on the dressing with the roasted garlic and toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature. </p> <p>Also great with: roasted wild leeks, pitted olives, sundried tomatoes, and/or feta cheese! </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="naturasale" alt="naturasale" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/naturasale.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>We have things on SALE! </h2> <p>Hey! Guess what!? We do a lot more than produce. We a <strong>huge and growing catalogue of many of your household food items.</strong> Such as dairy, eggs, bread, cereals, sauces, spices, fresh soups, condiments, tea, coffee, snacks, baking ingredients... the list goes on. Not only that, but many of these itemsare sourced for high quality, local production, and certified organic ingredients! </p> <p>And another good part... many times our distributors put products on special, and <strong>we pass those savings on to you! </strong>Right now is the perfect time to check out:</p> <p>Non Dairy soy, rice, and almond milk<br />Non-pasteurized coconut water - this is seriously the best coconut water ever<br />Organic Hot Sauces<br />Organic Juices and Juice Boxes - made in Canada<br />Breakfast Boost cereals - made in Canada</p> <p>Check out the <strong>*Specials*</strong> category in The Organic Market for the whole list!</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>