Ascension arts and craft fair comes with fair-trade twist – Thousand Oaks Acorn

Ascension Lutheran Churchs fair trade ministry will host its second Fair Trade Gift Fair on Sunday.

After the success of the first event in May, organizers decided to plan this weekends event in time to celebrate the ministrys 20th year of involvement with fair trade practices and to coincide with Fair Trade Month.

Fair trade is a way of doing business that puts our people and planet first, said Carol Bjelland, who leads Ascensions fair trade ministry.

The ministry partnered with Fair Trade Los Angeles to include eight vendors for Sundays event set to take place in the churchs front parking lot at 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. items from artisans around the world, including clothing, household goods, coffees, teas, chocolates and cheeses, will be sold.

Its the perfect occasion to get off to a great start for Christmas shopping, for beautiful and tasty items while making the world a better place through fair trade, Bjelland said.

Ascension Lutheran Church will have its own booth to sell fair-trade products such as olive oil from Palestine, pecans from Georgia and cheese from Wisconsin, she said.

The ministry offers classes focused on the 10 principles of fair trade to promote human, economic and environmental justice. Some of the principles are transparency, accountability, fair payment, no child labor and sustainable growing practices.

Sundays event will serve an outdoor class with all the vendors on hand to provide insight on fair-trade practices, Bjelland said.

Some of the products, such as Equal Exchange Chocolates, include a story of where the ingredients are sourced from on the wrappers interior.

Everyone is encouraged to ask questions. The vendors would be more than happy to share their fair-trade stories, she said.

Since the gift fair is on a Sunday, shoppers are invited to join in the churchs services at 9 a.m. for a traditional worship or

11 a.m. with the

Praise Alive band.

Youths from the church will serve fair-trade coffee and doughnuts from a local shop, Bjelland said. as Everyone is invited to celebrate fair trade and hear their stories, she said.

For more information, go to alcto.org.

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Ascension arts and craft fair comes with fair-trade twist - Thousand Oaks Acorn