Fair Trade: A Good Idea for Healdsburg? Maybe Yes

Healdsburg could add a new subtitle to its name: "Fair Trade Town."

Healdsburg City Council told a favor of the designation and the mission behind it.

"I like the positive message," Healdsburg City Councilman Jim Wood said at a public meeting this week where the group asked council to approve a resolution in favor of the designation.

"It would be great to honor Healdsburg by being the first in Sonoma County to be a Fair Trade Town," Wood said.

However, Wood and other councilmembers said they will wait until the next council meeting on Aug. 29 to vote on the new name.

Councilmembers said they were in favor of the resolution, but wanted to give time for the Healdsburg business community to voice any opinions, comments or objections.

"Unfortunately, people who don't understand it might be fearful," Wood said. "I'd like to be sensitive to our retail community."

Healdsburg Vice Mayor Gary Plass agreed.

"I think it's a very worthwhile idea," Plass said.

"My only concern would be if we fast-tracked it," Plass added. "I would like to make sure there are no lingering questions from retailers."

Ray Ballestero, co-owner with wife Annette Ballestero of store in downtown Healdsburg, said the effort encouraged people to purchase Fair Trade items and shop at Fair Trade stores, but there was absolutely no intent to discourage business anywhere else.

"It generally just refers to items that come from other countries, that are not grown locally, like coffee or bananas," Ballestero said. "We do encourage people to shop local, and buy local produce."

A Fair Trade item is one where the supply chain has been found to be free of child labor and human trafficking violations, and where farmers and tradesmen are paid fair wages.

A Fair Trade store is one that carries at least two Fair Trade items.

Healdsburg already has at least nine Fair Trade stores, meaning that the town more than meets the qualifications to be a Fair Trade Town -- or has one Fair Trade business for every 5,000 residents.

With 10 Fair Trade stores, and 11,250 residents, Healdsburg already could be certified as a Fair Trade Town.

Current Fair Trade stores in Healdsburg are: ; ; ; ; ; ; and

For more information, see the Fair Trade website.

For continuing updates, see the Fair Trade Healdsburg blog.