Frogs for Fair Trade was founded on a vision to raise awareness and bring Fair Trade products to campus. For five semesters, this vision has been a reality, but this accomplishment was not sustainable.”We have very little movement on the products and our employees are trained to prevent waste,” said Legia Abato, marketing manager for TCU Dining Services.

Waste, she said.

It seems the organization had the logic flipped all along. Susan Harz, the organization’s co-coordinator, said Fair Trade products raise awareness. On the other hand, Abato said, Fair Trade products are not high in demand.

Which comes first? Fair Trade awareness or products?

Products do not raise awareness. Awareness creates a demand for the products.

If, as Harz says, students understood the effects behind their purchases – and cared – there would be a demand for Fair Trade products. Maybe then we would still have the option of drinking

Fair Trade coffee while “tasting the

justice.” This obviously is not the

case today.

Change on the campus must start with the student body, and one

student organization is not enough

to make that change. Frogs for Fair Trade should redirect its efforts to bring back Fair Trade products on

campus from Dining Services to the

students. If Fair trade coffee did return to Frog Bytes today, it wouldn’t solve the problem of the low demand and waste resulting from the lack of student interest in the issue behind the

products.

Educate the students. Inform them on what kind of effects their purchases bring to the people behind the products. Create a demand for Fair Trade products.

Features editor Saerom Yoo for the editorial board.