

There are a few goodies that I really enjoy in life. Two of them happen to be coffee and chocolate. Each morning when I wake up, the first thing that I look forward to is a pipping hot cup of coffee. Once in a while, I love to indulge on a square or two of lovely dark or milk chocolate. So, when a package came in the mail from Equal Exchange, I knew I was in for a treat. I was immediately delighted when I opened the package to find the Fair Trade Mixer Basket. This basket includes a variety of Equal Exchange products in a fairly traded kaisa grass basket imported by Ten Thousand Villages from Dhaka Handicrafts, a non-profit that works to improve the lives of children and rural families in Bangladesh. The grass basket was a lovely surprise, I own a large round grass basket that Mr. Sweet Greens surprised me with from our local Ten Thousand Villages store here in the foothills. The basket also included a French Roast Coffee, Organic Hot Cocoa Mix, Organic Very Dark Chocolate Bar, Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds Bar, Organic Milk Chocolate with a Hint of Hazelnut Bar, Organic Tamari Roasted Almonds and Roasted Salted Pecans.
I saved the gift basket for when Mr. Sweet Greens and Eben returned home for the day. This was a challenge for me, all day long I wanted to break into a chocolate bar and go to town. I was good and waited to share the goodies with them.
First things first, we tried the organic chocolate bars and cocoa. Eben usually has a yummy cup of cocoa when he gets home from school, but to have actual chocolate pieces to go with it was a big surprise. Eben loved the Organic Hot Cocoa, he has been drinking organic cocoa for a long time and thought this one had a great chocolate flavor.
Eben also enjoy the Organic Milk Chocolate with a Hint of Hazelnut Bar but was disinterested in any of the dark chocolate. Mr. Sweet Greens doesn’t enjoy chocolate so lucky for me, the Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds Bar and Organic Very Dark Chocolate Bar were all mine and they are divine. All of the chocolate bars were shiny and smooth and had a lovely nutty smell. When I slowly chewed and let it melt in my mouth I was in heaven, leaving me wanting more. Plus, I love the large size and the wrapping is fab.
Eben also enjoy the Organic Milk Chocolate with a Hint of Hazelnut Bar but was disinterested in any of the dark chocolate. Mr. Sweet Greens doesn’t enjoy chocolate so lucky for me, the Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds Bar and Organic Very Dark Chocolate Bar were all mine and they are divine. All of the chocolate bars were shiny and smooth and had a lovely nutty smell. When I slowly chewed and let it melt in my mouth I was in heaven, leaving me wanting more. Plus, I love the large size and the wrapping is fab.
Mr. Sweet Greens and I really enjoyed the French Roast Coffee together and thought that is was very smooth and nutty. We both thoroughly enjoyed this coffee and loved that it had a rich body and wasn’t bitter. It was a lovely addition to our morning routine and since the coffee is fairly traded and organic, who could ask for more? I also enjoyed some chocolate with my coffee and just to let you know, chocolate makes coffee better.

All three of us taste tested the Organic Tamari Roasted Almonds and the Roasted Salted Pecans because we are huge nut eaters and enjoy them immensely. We thought that the Organic Almonds were divine and the use of tamari instead of salt really enhances the flavor because they are nice and toasted without being overly salty. Eben really enjoyed these because he has a deep love of Soy Sauce. Perfect. We thought the Pecans were crunchy and then creamy in when chewed. They are perfectly salty and delicious.

All three of us taste tested the Organic Tamari Roasted Almonds and the Roasted Salted Pecans because we are huge nut eaters and enjoy them immensely. We thought that the Organic Almonds were divine and the use of tamari instead of salt really enhances the flavor because they are nice and toasted without being overly salty. Eben really enjoyed these because he has a deep love of Soy Sauce. Perfect. We thought the Pecans were crunchy and then creamy in when chewed. They are perfectly salty and delicious.

The best part about Equal Exchange is that it was created from this idea:: “What if food could be traded in a way that is honest and fair, a way that empowers both farmers and consumers? What if trade supported family farms that use organic methods, rather than industrialized agribusinesses that rely on harmful chemicals?” How lovely is that?
I think that Equal Exchange Fairly Traded Gift Baskets would make the perfect holiday gifts this year. I think they would be perfect for grandparents, parents, teachers and as hostess gifts. Each basket has someone for everyone, all the while supporting a fabulous organization with a lovely cause.
A big thank you to Equal Exchange for doing what they do. It is great to find organizations that want to make our world a better place to live.
Equal Exchange has been so lovely to give one of my fabulous readers a Fair Trade Mixer Basket. {$47 Value} You two can enjoy all of the goodies that Equal Exchange has to offer. My readers can also enjoy other fair trade gifts that support small scale farmers, ranging from $25-$75. Order now and get 10% off your order and receive free shipping on orders over $75 with the coupon code:: ‘giftme10′. This coupon is valid through 12/31/09.
*UPDATE: WINNER:: #82 Amanda. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered.
{How to Win}
* Visit and leave a comment Equal Exchange and leave me a comment telling me what you think of this fabulous organization.
{One comment per person please.}
{Additional Entries}
Please leave a separate comment for each thing that you do.
*Share Equal Exchange on Twitter. {You can tweet daily, just leave a separate comment each time.}
*Share Equal Exchange on Facebook.
Good Luck and Enjoy. Contest ends December 21st @ 12 am EST.
**DISCLAIMER:: All shipments are sent via United Parcel Service (UPS). Orders will be shipped within the contingent United States only. This item will not be shipped to PO/APO/FPO’s, American Samoa, Guam, Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or Virgin Islands.
XO.





I love that they are supporting farmers all around the globe and not in one limited area!
alisonDblanchard at yahoo dot com
I, too, love that Equal Exchange supports (and thus encourages) farmers around the world. My husband is from Bangladesh, and I have seen Dhaka Handicrafts – they are beautiful!
I think this is a really cool organization. I like how they use sustainable and fair methods.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/dzhu19/status/6669460729
I absolutely love Equal Exchange! My husband & I both love their mint chocolate crunch bars, so good!
I’m glad this organization help small farmers and their products look delicious!My email is
teresitajeje(at)hotmail(dot)com
Being raised in a farming family, knowing that this company stands for farmers and supports small farmer co-ops is VERY enlightening!
lmerritt49903@gmail.com
I found it interesting that they have no high executive salaries to support. Equal Exchange has a 4:1 pay ratio scale, meaning the highest salary cannot be more than four times the lowest salary. I like that philosophy!
tweet here
http://twitter.com/tnshadylady/status/6676378357
I shared this on my facebook page
Deb Anderson
I faved you on technorati
they have a great business model. I wish there were more companies like them! We need to support the ones that do care about fair trade and our earth!
I have to say, never tried Equal Exchange but very much would like to! 🙂
I love Equal Exchange chocolate. My hubby was fortunate at his last job that his non-profit gave them to him around this time. They are a great organization and I love satisfying my sweet tooth and humanity at the same time.
Lisette Ramos
lramos@rocketmail.com
I really love that they have developed an Interfaith Program!
hkulper at aol dot com
I shared this on my Facebook wall!
hkulper at aol dot com
I like their co-op. Their coffee is wonderful too!
Yum! I was just looking for organic cocoa. Of course I love that Equal Exchange works with farmers who are sustainable. I don’t have to wonder if the product I’m purchasing was made under horrible work conditions.
yeah for equal exchange! my family is in the process of switching to only fair trade chocolates and coffee!
jillmarie_mt (at) hotmail (dot) com
this is great! i do hope more companies/coops will share this vision. we actually have one like it here in our country, human nature:
http://humanheartnature.com/about_philosophy.html
ilaybalilay(at)yahoo(dot)com
retweeted 🙂
twitter name: ilaybalilay
shared this on facebook. 🙂
user name: anya mendoza
ilaybalilay(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great organization! I love that it has a 4:1 pay scale ratio
I’m a big fan – they make you think about the human i,mpact of your food even if you don’t buy theirs.
Tweeted!
Farmers earn a fair price for their producs, have access to affordable credit and can invest in healthcare, education and sustainable agriculture so they can build better future for themselves and their families. Great job!
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Go Fair Trade! I wish there were more fair trade cocoa and coffee producers
This is an excellent organization!
i have been buying fair trade coffee for years, i love companies who support this and who pay their workers well
roswello athotmail dot com
Okay, may I just say that is so awesome! My family and I are very big into supporting the local farming community so I can really appreciate what this company is trying to do.
Wonderful giveaway!
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
I tweeted this giveaway:
http://twitter.com/TheEclecticE/status/6684085851
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
I absolutely love companies like this that give people a chance to support themselves and their families.
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I think it’s wonderful that they have an Interfaith program!
Tweet.
http://twitter.com/katt_v/statuses/6685463246
Shared on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=1801227364&share_id=206737854878&comments=1#s206737854878
I’m a big big fan of fair trade, & wasn’t familiar with this group. The products look very tasty, the packaging is nicely done, & I like the fact that purchases directly support farmers & growers.
I love that many of their products are organic as well as fair trade. It’s often a choice between the two, but I prefer products that are both.
ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca
I found it interesting that they have no high executive salaries to support.
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/cndlady/status/6687383230
I shared on facebook
usr id cndlady
I like that they care about more than economics!
tazimd @gmail . com
I love that they support snall farners globally. That they support fair trade.
This is a wonderful feature! I love that they are both organic and fair trade, and the fact that they support small farms, and farms here in the US is the icing on the cake. I also appreciate that you can type in the “best by” date on items like their cranberries and determine where they were grown.
Hi,
I was very glad to learn more about them. I checked out their blog and learned more than I ever knew before about the problems with large corporate chocolatiers due to human rights, environmental and other kinds of abuse on cocoa plantations. Hmm…. what most people would never imagine would be the backstory on their chocolate bar. To be making connecting small producers with enviro and socially conscious consumer – way to go!
jen dot s dot chandler at gmail dot com
Great site and wonderful philosophy! Maybe if this was practiced more, we’d have more peace and less war! Good work!
I like that they help the farmers not big corporations.
rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/jbafaith/status/6697606356
I posted my twitter comment about Equal Exchange on Facebook Judy Bradley
this is wonderful I like that they develop more environmentally-sound business practices
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
it is a good organization, plus I’ve had the coffee and it’s very smooth.
amylwright@hotmail.com
I love the pay ratio that they support. Good to see these days!
I learned that there are fundraisers opportunities that would be great for our homeschooling co-op. I have had the hot cocoa and it is wonderful…it is great to read about their other products too! Thanks for sharing…
maureenruble@yahoo.com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/JDanger/status/6702149111
That is fantastic that they support small farmer co-ops and use sustainable farming methods.
pkildow at gmail dot com
How great that they support small farmers!
I love that they support small farmers.
fscott2929(at)comcast(dot)net
I love that they support so many farms and have a huge selection of goods
I like that they support sustainable farming practices.
i love how this site gathers together fair trade products from all over, especially chocolate! which i love, but can be a bit problematic in regards to sourcing ethically and sustainably
I like that not only do they use small farm co ops, but that they are also thinking about more environmentally-sound business practices
I also tweeted here
http://twitter.com/sunshinestgurl/status/6713732503
I love that fair trade helps small farmers. lilstasi2@aol.com
I twitted. http://twitter.com/lilstasi lilstasi2@aol.com
This a fabulous and (about time) idea!! I have also tried their products and they are delicious…feeding the soul as well as the body.
silenttributary(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the wide variety of products that they sell!
Nury77 at live dot ca
i shared this giveaway on twitter:
http://twitter.com/daer0n/status/6720314870
Nury77 at live dot ca
I shared this on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?filter=app_2915120374#
Nury77 at live dot ca
i added sweet greens to my technorati favorites.
Nury77 at live dot ca
Eat goodies while supporting sustainable growth and life. What is not to love?!
Equal Exchange is such a great organization, and I’ve bought their coffee at Ten Thousand Villages before, and it’s sooo good!
I’d love to try the Organic Spicy Hot Cocoa.
Daily Tweet:
http://twitter.com/TheEclecticE/status/6749180890
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/6750090315
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
I like that they use sustainable farming methods 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Tweeted
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Shared on Facebook
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Stumbled
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Faved on Technorati
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
I love their coffee!
arstella [at] gmail[dot] com
I like that their are “green” and have some fab products
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/6770241190
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Daily Tweet:
http://twitter.com/TheEclecticE/status/6773080621
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
This is a really commendable organization. Thanks for introducing them to me!
oheeyore at hotmail dot com
technorati favorite – oheeyore
oheeyore at hotmail dot com
I think this organization, and organizations like them, are SO important to the earth and its people. Humans cannot be trusted, which has been proven time and time again, to be fair to other humans or not take advantage of situations for their own selfish benefit. Organizations like this help to stem that greed.
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com
I tweeted this giveaway here: http://twitter.com/FotoMacro/status/6795925664
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com
I dugg this link on digg.com under username angie16: http://digg.com/food_drink/Sweet_Greens_Equal_Exchange_Fair_Trade_Mixer_Basket
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com
I love how you can sign up to their action alerts to use your own voice to help their cause!
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/RePurrPussed/status/6795969704
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com
I submitted your giveaway link to digg.com as scotthl here: http://digg.com/food_drink/Sweet_Greens_Equal_Exchange_Fair_Trade_Mixer_Basket
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/6811279342
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
It’s wonderful that they support farmers all over the world
josiefiorda@yahoo.ca
Daily Tweet:
http://twitter.com/TheEclecticE/status/6814006063
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/nfmgirl/status/6834077856
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
tweet:
http://twitter.com/daer0n/status/6839946094
Nury77 at live dot ca
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I think it’s a great thing that they are supporting farmers all over the world.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/6849667617
aikychien at yahoo dot com
Daily Tweet:
http://twitter.com/TheEclecticE/status/6850326284
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
I love that they are socially conscious but especially that all their products are so delicious!
I think is cool/interesting that there are supporting farmers from all over the world
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/6879421425
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I think it’s great that Equal Exchange helps farmers to build better lives for themselves and their families by partnering with them!
tylerpants(at)gmail.com
I love that they partner with co-operatives of farmers!
I’ve been enjoying this company for some time, occasionally treating myself to a bar of their yummy chocolate! ~H
Tweeted
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
Daily Tweet:
http://twitter.com/TheEclecticE/status/6901999200
TheEclecticElement AT yahoo DOT com
tweet:
http://twitter.com/daer0n/status/6909230458
Nury77 at live dot ca