<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="SunworksWholeChicken" alt="SunworksWholeChicken" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/Sunrise Whole Chicken(1).jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Sunworks Whole Chickens</h2> <p>Just in this week, <strong>Certified Organic </strong>and <strong>Certified Humane </strong>whole chickens from our favorite meat supplier <a title="Sunworks Organic Farm" href="http://www.sunworksfarm.com/organic-chicken/" target="_blank"><strong>Sunworks Organic Farm</strong></a>. Dedicated to quality and Certified Humane best practices, Sunworks Organic Farm takes exceptional care of their birds during their lifetime. The chicks get to the farm a mere 12 hours-old and their first taste of life is <strong>Certified Organic feed</strong>. During the winter months, the chickens are raised in well-lit an well-ventilated barns with lots of room to roam and feed. Processing takes place in a <strong>government-inspected </strong>family-owned facility and are cleaned and <strong>vacuum packaged </strong>to maintain freshness. These chickens are truly the best and healthiest birds you will ever eat! </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="Mans Organics AB" alt="Mans Organics AB" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/Mans Organics.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Unloading the AB Veggies!</h2> <p>It's the time of year we have all been waiting for; the time when local veggies start trickling in and your Organic Box is filled with <strong>Alberta-grown </strong>goodies. Fresh in this week from our friends at <a title="Mans Organics" href="http://www.mansorganics.ca/" target="_blank"><strong>Mans Organics</strong></a>, Certified Organic <strong>Long English Cucumbers</strong>, <strong>Mini Cucumbers</strong>, and <strong>Green Bell Peppers</strong>. Mans Organics is a <strong>family-owned Certified Organic </strong>Farm in <strong>Coaldale, Alberta</strong>. It was established by the Mans family in 1994 and later taken over by Andrew Mans in 2012. <strong>Andrew</strong> and his wife, <strong>Denise</strong>, have been working extra hard to expand their production and give you more fresh varieties this year. Just a year-old, their new <strong>greenhouse</strong> has been producing exceptionally well and you get the first taste of the season this week. Enjoy your AB veggies and keep looking forward to more from our lovely local growers. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="BC Veggies" alt="BC Veggies" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/Local Veggies.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>TheBC Season Has Begun!</h2> <p>As much as we love ourfriends in California and Mexico for their hard work and delicious products, there is something extra specialabout getting <strong>BC produce </strong>in your box.It brings that warm feeling ofspring that lightens up your day. If it's spring in BC, then it must be coming to Edmonton, right? We have slowly been seeing some BC veggies popping up every week. This week we have a whole list of BC veggies for you to enjoy: <strong>Leeks</strong>, <strong>Colored Bell Peppers</strong>, <strong>Long English Cucumbers</strong>, <strong>Arugula</strong>, <strong>Mizuna</strong>, <strong>Vine Tomatoes</strong>, <strong>Beefsteak Tomatoes</strong>,<strong>Bunched Spinach</strong>, and <strong>Fresh Dandelion </strong>from <a title="Origin Organics " href="http://www.origino.ca/" target="_blank"><strong>Origin Organics </strong></a>and <a title="Two EE'sOrganics" href="http://www.wegroworganic.ca/" target="_blank"><strong>Two EE'sOrganics</strong></a>. Plus, don't forget about our <strong>BC Mushrooms</strong>! We are officially moving into spring, so take advantage of this and make yourself a true Canadian meal!</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>